NECTARINE MADNESS

Finca Monteblanco is a family-run farm in Vereda La Tocora, high in the mountains above Pitalito, Huila, Colombia. Managed by Rodrigo Sánchez Valencia, the farm spans 18 hectares and has been growing coffee since his grandfather's time. Rodrigo’s journey into specialty coffee began in 2002, when he learned to cup and understand how farming practices affect cup quality.

Through this knowledge, Rodrigo discovered rare varieties like Purple Caturra, originally planted by his grandfather. Today, he leads a dedicated team that includes his wife, Claudia, and farm manager Don Gerardo, focusing on quality and consistency across every harvest.

Coffee cherries are carefully measured for sugar content (°Brix) to determine optimal processing. Washed lots, for example, undergo controlled fermentation and drying, ensuring clean, terroir-driven profiles. The farm is part of Aromas del Sur, a network that includes farms and a state-of-the-art dry mill in Pitalito.

Despite the challenges of a changing climate and extended harvest seasons, Finca Monteblanco continues to produce competition-level microlots and reliably excellent coffees enjoyed around the world.