Raventos i Blanc Silencis 2013
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Robert
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Raventos i Blanc produce a majority of sparkling wines from their property on the banks of the Anoia River, which is within the geographical limits of Penedes. They also produce still wines, mainly a white from Xarello and some reds, but Pepe Raventos, winemaker and current head of the winery, told me that he-s going to concentrate on sparkling wines and whites only.
Pepe Raventós is the 21st generation of the most exciting Spanish Sparkling producers, Raventós i Blanc.
With a documented history of viticulture back to 1497, officially creating the first sparkling wine in Spain in 1872 by Josep Raventós i Fatjó, the Raven- tós family are one of the best sparkling wine produ- cers in the country.
Pepe Raventós, of the current generation, is a dy- namic and forward-thinking man and honed his expertise with internships alongside the late, great Didier Dageneau in the Loire and Domaine Hubert Lamy in Burgundy, before returning to the family domaine to produce exceptional sparkling wines from their biodynamic, fossil-rich terroir.
In 2012, Raventos i Blanc withdrew from the Cava DO to initiate a new, terroir driven appellation, Conca del Riu Anoia, due to a desire to set a stan- dard in high quality wine production, where rules such as the use of only indigenous grapes, ecologi- cal viticulture (100% Biodynamic), estate-produced and estate-bottled fruit and minimum of 18 months of ageing requirements, apply.
White grapes are used in two famous types of Spanish wine, Sherry and Cava, but we will limit this discussion to still whites. Let’s begin with perhaps the best known and most highly regarded internationally, Albariño . Produced in the region of Rías Baixas, just above Portugal in northwestern Spain, Albariño typically sees no or little oak and is medium to medium-plus in body. Aroma and flavor notes often include citrus and peach, often with subtle floral notes and a suggestion of sea spray, giving the wine a zesty feel. Often bottled as a single varietal, Albariño is sometimes blended with other indigenous grapes like Loureira and Treixadura. Try one of these Spanish whites from Forjas del Salnes.
Let’s look at a few other Spanish white wines. Godello also hails from northwestern Spain and presents a profile of grapefruit, minerality and a slight smoky quality. Enjoy a bottle from Bodegas Avancia. The region of Rueda, northwest of Madrid, is home to Verdejo , which makes refreshing, un-oaked white wines whose herbal vibrancy recalls Sauvignon Blanc . Protos makes a tasty version. Up north in the Basque region, we find the wine called Txakoli (sometimes called Txakolina). Pronounced “sha-ko-LEE,” it’s made from a local grape called Hondurrabi Zuri and is light, fresh, citrusy, dry … and with razor sharp acidity that makes it a fantastic partner with local seafood and tapas. Ameztoi Gertariako is a good Spanish white wine producer to check out.
The Penedѐs region, best known for the oceans of delicious Cava it sends to the world, also produces still Spanish whites, sometimes from international varieties like Chardonnay , and often from the same grapes used for Cava. These include Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo. Avaline produces a fine example of Penedes white. Finally, we visit the Rioja region. While it is historically and internationally famous for its reds, Rioja also produces fine Spanish white wines. These are usually based on Viura (the local name for Macabeo) and make good everyday sippers, although some aged versions can be stunningly complex. A good place to start is the white Rioja from Bodegas Muga.
As you can see, Spanish white wines offer a vast opportunity for exploration!