Producer >
David Sampedro and his wife, Melanie Hickman own and run this 9.5 ha biodynamic estate around the village of Elvillar in the Rioja Alavesa where limestone soils meander through three valleys that run between the Sierra Cantabria mountains and the River Ebro. 3.5 ha of their property is made up of single vineyard sites, elaborated under the banner ‘Struggling Vines’. They also exploit some small plots of Rufete on the granite and slate soils of the Sierra Francia in the province of Salamanca as well as another project in Navarra. Their mission is to rescue plots of old vines, work them manually and with all the soil work being done with the use of a horse. Their winery is solar powered and is partly built underground with cement fermentation tanks to help control temperatures. Ageing takes place for the top wines in French oak 500 and 600 litre casks.
Winemaking >
"V I N E Y A R D S
Vineyards located in San Martin de Unx, a tiny village in the Baja Montaña sub-region in the northern region of Navarra. Old garnacha vines from lime-rich soils found at 700 meters above sea level. The Atlantic climate reaches this small region which contributes to its unique and distinctive character.
W I N E M A K I N G
The grapes are destemmed and placed in stainless steel tanks to ferment and macerate for 14 days. The wine is then pressed and spends 3 months in tank where it undergoes malolactic fermentation prior to bottling.
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