Bodegas Gratias, Soy Caliza, Manchuela, Spain, 2021

Producer Profile

When Ana and Iván got together for a party with some oenologist friends in 2007, they decided to make some wine and put it in a barrel.

The results were astonishing – and so Bodegas Gratias was born. After the success of their first vintage, the pair realized they had a chance to make a difference in a region whose wine industry was in decline. Today, Ana and Iván are on a mission to protect old vineyards of Bobal, Tardana and other local varieties, thereby preserving Manchuela’s vinous heritage while showcasing its ability to produce exciting wines for a new generation of wine drinkers. Their wines are artisanal and as natural as they come, made from organically grown fruit and fermented using naturally occurring yeasts with hardly any added sulphites.

Viticulture

Soy has become three, with an increasing focus on terroir and emphasising the influence their three distinct soil types have on Bobal’s profile. Soy Arcilla or ‘clay comes from a vineyard planted by Ivan's grandfather over 80 years ago. These unirrigated old bush vines on clay and limestone soils are harvested separately for the Arcilla cuvee, whilst the old bush vines for Soy Arenas or ‘sand’, come from an area where soils are comprised of deposited river stones and sand. Soy 'Caliza' or 'limestone' comes from a plot with a distinctive limestone streak running through it, close to the Jucar river.

Winemaking

Grapes are hand-harvested, de-stemmed and whole bunches are fermented in small tanks, and go into oak barrels after fermentation, for malolactic fermentation and maturation for up to 8 months.

Tasting Note

Bright Bobal characters, with spicy, blackberries, plums and blueberries on the nose, yet on the palate the limestone character comes to the fore, with chalky minerality combined with the deep ripe fruit. Beautifully structured and long on the palate.

Food Matching

This works well with a wide variety of dishes, from grilled meat and fish, through to vegetable stews.