Bodegas Edetaria Edetana Blanco 2017
Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Edetària produces authentic wines with indigenous grapes, searching the purest soil expression, and restoring old vines value thanks to organic winemaking South of Barcelona in Gandesa DO Terra Alta.
Joan Àngel Lliberia, Edetària’s heart and soul, started Edetària’s adventure after studying Agricultural Engineering studies in Lleida and taking a Master of Science in Wine Management at OIV (Office International de la Vigne et du vin); his first wine management professional steps took place in several wine companies in France; then he moved back to Catalunya, where he continued his career in the wine sector and later on multinational corporations.
It was his childhood lived amongst a universe of vineyards, grapes, cellars and his passion for wine what called him back to his origins to set up Edetària. A dream come true, a homage to his grandfather Llorens -oenologist- and his parents Pepita and Angel -viticulturers-, making true terroir wines out of his family vineyards in a genuine style.
Wine belongs to a land and its main aim is displaying the expression of soil, climate and a way of being. Thus Edetària is fully committed to respect nature and sustainable practices in search of Terra Alta genuineness.
Wine is also a reflection of the mind thinking it, the person designing it and the hands that shape it. Edetària makes wines with its own personality, out of deep terroir knowledge and strict winemaking, but also allowing room to inspiration, and experiment freely for the sake of creativeness.
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!