Definition Bodegas Gratias
Gratias is the creation of four friends, Ivan, Ana, José and Silvia who decided to make wines together, in the respect of the terroir and the people of their village. Their wines are the most natural possible, and without any added sulphur.
History Bodegas Gratias
Ivan made wine at various estates we know, one of which being Celler del Roure in Moixent - a producer we like a lot.
Ivan's dream was to be able to make wione in is natal villageof Alborea, in the Manchuela wine zone.
This is where he founded Gratias with his friends Ana, José and Silvia, the name of the estate being chosen to thank all those who helped them to make the dream come true.
Right from the start, they wanted to make wines which respect the terroir and the people of the village, with a minimum of intervention in the cellar, in opposition with the global trend of standardisation in today's wine world.
Varieties
Gratias uses the typical grapes of its region; tardana, macabeo, marisancho, doña blanca, albillo and blanquilla for the whites, and mainly bobal for the reds, but also some pintaillo, a rare varietal which nearly disappeared.
The common factor between all these grapes: they come from old high-altitude vines (between 700 and 800 m above sea level), often cultivated in field blends.
Terroir
All the vineyards are bush vines, all organic, and none are irrigated.
The soils are very diverse, even if limestone is apparent on the surface - the red thread is that these soils (limestone, clay or silt) are very poor.
Altitude (700 to 800 m) also plays a crucial role.
Winemaking
Biodynamics. No added sulphur.
Some of the grapes are not de-stemmed. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts from the vineyards.
No pumping over, a minimal intervention: gravity does the job.
No added sulphur. The wine is aged in old vats, concrete tanks and tinajas or jars.