La Ola del Melillero 2020Victoria Ordóñez - 75 cl.

“Who do you belong to?”, quite literally. Vino de Pueblo — the Spanish equivalent of a “village wine” — crafted from old vines and made exclusively from the traditional grape varieties of the region. It’s also an ethical wine, made through crowdfunding to support and empower local farmers. A highly distinctive and characterful wine. The Tardana vineyards are between 60 and 70 years old, planted on parcels at 400 metres altitude, primarily on limestone and clay soils. The Macabeo comes from vines that are 30 to 50 years old, planted at 700 metres, also on limestone and clay. The other white grapes are field blends from vines aged between 80 and 100 years, on similar soils as the previously mentioned varieties.

Mineral and Mediterranean are this wine's best descriptors. It is made with the grapes of a 3 ha parcel of Macabeu planted in the 1980's, round Santes Creus, at 300 meters above sea-level. Calcareous soils with fossil deposits (Lumaquel·la).

Mineral and Mediterranean are this wine's best descriptors. It is made with the grapes of a 3 ha parcel of Macabeu planted in the 1980's, round Santes Creus, at 300 meters above sea-level. Calcareous soils with fossil deposits (Lumaquel·la).

The proof of Albet i Noya's technical know-how. The barrel-fermented Chardonnay brings roundness, the sauvignon brings its acidity and minerality, the local Xarello adds a hint of freshness. This gastronomy wine is closed under screw cap since 2009.

After reviving Bobal, Toni Sarrión turned to his next challenge: bringing Merseguera back into the spotlight. This traditional grape variety from the Alto Turia region near Valencia had long been neglected, used only for producing simple, uninspiring wines. His project began over a decade ago on a steep vineyard with a 10% incline, situated at 900 metres altitude. Old-vine Bobal proved unsuccessful in this cool climate — the grapes simply didn’t ripen — so Toni decided to graft the entire site over to Merseguera. The first vintage he released was 2011. To give the wine more aroma and energy, he added small amounts of Malvasía and Viognier. The vineyard is steeped in a Mediterranean atmosphere: between the vines grow olive trees, pine, rosemary, fennel and thyme.

16 years ago, Jané Ventura started to try and revive the Malvasia de Sitges of ancient fame. Many other winemakers followed suit. This light and lively wine is a good introduction to this variety. semperviva means eternal, and is the name of a flower that can be dried and thus preserved for a very long time. A beautiful name for a beautiful wine, of which only 4,400 bottles have been made in this first vintage.

Cullerot (tadpole, in the Valencian dialect) is a nickname for Valencian people - hence the image on the label. For some years now, Celler del Roure has tried to save the old local varietals. They are still using the "old winemaking system", in the big earthenware amphoras (tinajas) they have kept on this ancient estate. 2010 was the first vintage of this cuvée.

A Macabeu-based project. The grapes come from two parcels of one hectare each; one planted in 1969, the other in 1998. All vines are farmed bio-dynamically.

The grapes come from three different vineyards on the Finca Can Milà, planted in 1960, 1968 and 1973, located at around 250 metres altitude and in gobelet. Can Milà is the latest acquisition of the bodega and La Milana (red) is the first wine produced from these plots.

This Cava producer harvests his grapes just before they are fully ripe, oxidation of the most or juice being Cava's biggest enemy. This means his wines are low in alcohol. This Chardonnay from the oldest and highest vines of Mas Escorpí and El Serralet high is full of freshness.

Beside the great wines of the estate like Acrollam, Trispol and Sótil, the Sincronia range is hosting the "little brothers". Its label recalls the Majorcan life with its boats on the coast and landscapes in the hinterland. Because having roots is as important as being open to the outside world.

Back to the typical "Mountain Wines" of Málaga! The label is a poetical reference to the waves on the hull of the Melillero, the boat which links Málaga with the harbour of Melilla, a Spanish city on the North-African Coast. The grapes come from 7 small parcels aged from 30 to 100 years, on the "Montes" surrounding the city of Málaga. These lie between 800 and 1000 metres above sea-level.

Gessami means jasmin in catalan. This Cava producer harvests its grapes just before the full ripeness, the Cava's biggest enemy being oxydation. As a result, the wine are quite low in alcohol.

Quíbia is the imaginary village of Felanitx described in the writings of philosopher Llorenç Mostel. It is a unique blend of indigenous Mallorcan grape varieties. For years, Quíbia searched for its identity, and since 2022, we are tasting a completely new expression: a wine based on the native Premsal, complemented by Giró Ros.

Quíbia is the imaginary village of Felanitx described in the writings of philosopher Llorenç Mostel. It is a unique blend of indigenous Mallorcan grape varieties. For years, Quíbia searched for its identity, and since 2022, we are tasting a completely new expression: a wine based on the native Premsal, complemented by Giró Ros.

This is the white "village wine" of Terroir al Limit. It is mainly composed of Pedro Ximénez, both spicy and Mediterranean, and a little Muscat d'Alexandrie. Refinement and minerality at its best!

The first vintage of this wine was 2014. It marked the rehabilitation of the long forgotten Carignan Blanc.

Istiu is Enric Soler's latest creation. For the first time a coupage wine, of very limited production, that shows Enric's creative and non-conformist character. Sourced from a 0.2ha plot with a subsoil of sand, loam and clay. The vines are respectively 42 (Xarel.lo) and 13 years old (Malvasia de Sitges). The vineyard is worked in biodynamics like all the other plots. A wine that shows the affinity between Xarel-lo and Malvasía de Sitges.