Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
In the foothills of the legendary mountains of Almansa, known as El Mugrón, are the largest single planting of the Garnacha Tintorera vines in Europe. This privileged location has abundant water and excellent soil, with a micro-climate that guarantees conditions suitable to the organic production of the singular wines of Bodegas Venta la Vega Territorio Ecologico. The estate includes more than 850 hectares of organic farm land in the mountainous limestone soils of Almansa. Altitudes of 1200 meters encourage the creation of distinct, natural micro-climates that enable the land to be farmed without the use of any chemical treatments or additives.
This is a personal project of the renowned oenologist from the Bierzo region, Raúl Pérez. José Ángel Martínez, who made his winemaking fame, much like Laura Ramos, on the Envinate project, works closely with Raúl managing the daily operations. Venta La Vega’s greatest expression is found in “Ternario,” a limited collection of three progressively more evolved organic wines that are all based on the essence of the native variety, Garnacha Tintorera.
Venta la Vega also produces the delightful introductory “Adaras” range. Wines with a distinct flavor that blend the Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell varieties, a combination that offers a magnificent interpretation of the Almansa region.
The Moors gave it the name, ‘Manxa,’ which fittingly means ‘parched earth.’ La Mancha, the largest Spanish wine producing region in all of Spain, is one of its hottest and driest. Sturdy and drought-resistant white varieietes like Airen, Viura and Verdejo thrive in this environment.
The most famous of the rare, red-fleshed grape varieties, Alicante Bouschet is known as a Teinturier grape. While most red grapes have red skin but clear flesh or pulp, the French, Alicante Bouschet and the Georgian (country) variety called, Saperavi, both have red. These make intensely hued, full-bodied red wines that take to oak well and can stand some time in the cellar. Somm Secret—While originally the product of a French crossing (Petit Bouschet and Grenache) of the late 1800s, today Alicante Bouchet grows widely in Spain and is gaining notoriety in Portugal.