Bodegas Altolandon, Enblanco de Altolandon, DO Manchuela, Spain, 2023

Producer Profile

At Bodegas Altolandon, owner and winemaker Rosalia Molina makes organic wines in one of Spain’s highest altitude wineries.

Her mission is to craft wines that express the typicity of DO Manchuela – its vineyards, its altitude and the varieties planted. This is viticulture on the edge of what is possible: at 1,100m above sea level, the grapes experience a large diurnal range that encourages even ripening and helps to retain natural acidity. Rosalia’s vineyards are certified organic, employ only natural fertilizers and promote biodiversity by allowing chickens, sheep and pigs from the local farms to roam freely. The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified as naturally as possible with native yeasts and minimal intervention. The wines are then aged in clay amphorae and some in French oak to give them the requisite texture and complexity.

Viticulture

The harvest is done manually into 12 kg cases to prevent the grapes from being crushed and are harvested from 15 year old vines grown on limestone and stony soils.

Winemaking

The wine is produced as naturally as possible and fermented spontaneously on the skins in 1000 litre amphora to maximise the potential of the grapes. There are no added sulphites and cold stabilisation is done naturally during the coldest months when temperatures can drop to -15° C.

Tasting Note

A very pale orange pink colour, the nose is elegant with sweet aromas of stone fruits, mineral and anise, supported by apricot, mirabelle plum and citrus notes. Full and well rounded on the palate, with plenty of weight, yet still elegant, lively and light in body. Easy to drink.

Food Matching

The perfect appetiser, but excellent with Tapas, baked fish and sushi.