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).
DO Bizkaiko Txakolina
, Spain
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.
