Yes, we specialise in Spanish wines, but as wine lovers we certainly do not drink Spanish wine only…
Riesling also makes our hearts beat a little faster.
Partly because Johan spent an important part of his sommelier career at one of Germany’s most renowned three Michelin star restaurants: Waldhotel Sonnora in Dreis, on the Mosel. That is how both the region and the Riesling grape became firm favourites of his.
What is more, several Spanish white grape varieties, particularly in Galicia, have their roots along the Rhine. Pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela helped spread them across Spain.
That is why it is so exciting when we come across a Spanish wine with those unmistakable Riesling vibes: mineral, stony, citrus driven and packed with freshness. Exactly what we love!
And it becomes even more exciting when that wine turns out not to come from Atlantic Spain or Galicia, but from the Mediterranean coast! Wow!
That happened to me a few weeks ago when I met Gerard Jané of Jané Ventura.
We have known his Malvasía de Sitges for many years. He was one of the pioneers behind this variety in Catalonia. After Jané Ventura reintroduced this forgotten grape variety, many younger winemakers followed his lead and started planting Malvasía de Sitges once again.
Please note: this is not a classic Malvasia as found in other regions.
Its exact origin remains unknown, but the grape shares characteristics with both Albariño and Riesling: a mineral profile that thrives on poor limestone soils.
Gerard still had a small number of bottles of his 2021 Malvasía de Sitges. What a wine!
He originally did not want to release it, because the wine could not carry the Penedès appellation. Part of the fruit comes from old slate vineyard parcels located outside the official appellation boundaries, and apparently that is not allowed! And I was definitely not supposed to tell anyone.
Really?!
You can probably guess my reaction. That is exactly the sort of story I love.
A rebel from Penedès who makes a wine with Riesling vibes from a fantastic forgotten grape!
What a story!
So what did I do? I bought the last 240 bottles of this Jané Ventura Malvasía de Sitges 2021.
This is a fantastic wine at a very reasonable price, especially considering the tiny quantities produced. It is genuinely top class, with plenty of ageing potential as an added bonus!