Winebow Producer Book

DO Alicante , Spain

Winery Overview Founded in 1989 by Enrique Mendoza, Bodegas Enrique Mendoza is now run by sons, José (Pepe) and Julián. Pepe is responsible for vineyard management and winemaking, while Julián looks after the commercial side of the company. So well respected is Enrique Mendoza that it was inducted into the prestigious Grandes Pagos de España. This group’s mission is to defend and propagate the culture of “pago” wine, meaning wine produced in a specific terroir that reflects the distinct personality of the soil and climate. To become a member, a vineyard must surpass strict quality standards and also exhibit a degree of uniqueness in terms of soil, climate or grape variety that sets it apart from the surrounding area. Location of Vineyard Bodegas Enrique Mendoza is located near the town of Alfàs Del Pi, about 45 miles from the city of Alicante, and is surrounded by breathtakingly landscaped gardens. Most of the vineyards are located near Villena at an average of 1,200 feet above sea level, with some parcels as high as 2,100 feet above sea level. Traditional plantings include Monastrell and Moscatel, although recently, Pepe has experimented with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Winemaking Philosophy Natural farming is prioritized at the winery and insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers are avoided. Pepe also places his vines under the optimal level of hydric stress to produce small, concentrated grapes and uses computerized sensors to monitors moisture levels in the vineyard, adjusting irrigation accordingly. The wines are typically fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak, with long maceration (up to 28 days). Winery Overview Planted in 1989, Bodegas Itsas Mendi (Basque for “Sea and Mountain”) comprises 67.5 acres of vineyard overlooking the Bay of Biscay, near the city of Bilbao. Its unusual white wine is from the native variety Hondarrabi Zuri, farmed by a small group of partners who own the extraordinarily beautiful land. One of Spain’s foremost oenologists, Ana Martín, is the winemaker producing dynamic new expressions of this traditional Basque grape. Ana was born in the Basque region of Spain and studied viticulture and enology at the University of Madrid. Much of Ana’s early work was in collaboration with José Hidalgo, another well known and respected winemaker. Together they worked in a number of different DOs but much of their work was concentrated in the white wine regions of Rías Baixas and Rueda. Location of Vineyard Since 2002, Itsas Mendi’s winery and a large portion of their vineyard have been located in the UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai. As a Biosphere Reserve, Urdaibai is one of 580 unique ecosystems across the world devoted to sustainable development and the creation of a balanced relationship between man and nature. Certified in sustainable viticulture by eco-friendly tourism organization, Turdaibai, the owners of Itsas Mendi are delighted to work in Urdaibai, where their natural farming techniques are shared throughout the entire Biosphere Reserve network. Winemaking Philosophy Each parcel from the loam and clay vineyards are vinified separately in stainless steel tanks and the best are then combined to create a crisp, citrus, unique white wine. DO Bizkaiko Txakolina , Spain