Widely considered to be one of the best
wineries in Jumilla, Viña Elena is very much a family affair with
Elena Pacheco at the helm supported ably by her mother, sisters and
children. Viña Elena sits directly inland from the Costa
Blanca and that venerable holiday destination, Benidorm.
Safe to say, it is hot in this south east corner of Spain and
Elena is fascinated by Monastrell and how she can create ever more
elegant and delicate incarnations of it, despite the intensity of
the sun.
From their 17 hectares of organically cultivated vines set
within the semi-arid, hilly landscape, Elena experiments with the
differing soil types to see how Monastrell will react and how she
can express the personality of the grape. The differing terroir,
organic practices and the lack of oak influence all goes to create
fascinating wines of greater elegance, fruit and delicacy than the
heat of this sun worshippers' land would have you expect.