About Ercavio:
Mas Que Vinos is the brainchild of a group of friends, Margarita Madrigal, Gonzalo
Rodriguez, and Alexandra Schmedes. Having renovated an old family winery which
dates to 1851, the three sought to preserve as much as they could from the original
property, including the old tinajas (clay amphors) which are still used today for the
malolactic fermentation.
La Mancha is one of the few areas of Spain that benefits from one single climate instead
of two or three such as Rioja and Ribera del Duero. This Continental climate
favors the extremes, with very cold winters and very hot summers. In the summer,
and because of the altitude (often over 700 meters), the nights are quite cool which is
perfect for an grape maturation. Soils in the zone are usually clay and limestone, with
small patches of granite.
Mas Que Vinos works with two varietals with which many American buyers may not
be familiar. Cencibel, a red varietal, is simply another name for Tempranillo when
grown in certain areas of Central and Southern Spain. Arien, equally as unknown, is
Spain’s most widely planted white varietal. Bunches are large and very tightly packed
and alcohol levels tend to be between 13% and 14%. Often it is added to a blend for
texture, but as it tends to be lower in alcohol in the area near Mas Que Vinos and the
aromatics quite interesting, the property has decided to make it the centerpiece of their
white wine. |