VITICULTURE&WINEMAKING

Careful Viticulture

In2020,FincaSandovalchangedthetrainingandpruningsystemstoencouragegreaterdevelopmentofthecanopy.This promoted shading of the bunches, which yields larger, more concentrated fruit and wines of more fluidity, freshness and elegance.

Aging In Clay

Recovering local winemaking practices for their Fundamentalista bottling, Finca Sandoval is experimenting with clay amphora known as lastinajas– the traditional aging vessels of Manchuela. The team feels wine aged in the amphora best expresses the estate’s terroir and their work in the vineyard. The clay’s porosity allows the winemakers to perform controlledmicro-oxygenationwhilepreservingintensityoffruitandthefreshnessofthewine.

Art Of Blending

Finca Sandoval maintains the European tradition of blended wines, even when one variety dominates. For instance, their Finca Sandoval bottling is primarily from low-yield, old-vine Syrah, but it is blended with native grape varieties like Monastrell,GarnachaandBobaltoaddcomplexityandlocalcharacter.

Moravia Agria is an heirloom grape native to Manchuela, the only DO that permits its use in wine. It is a sensitive variety with very thin skin that produces relatively low alcohol content (approx. 12.5%) and notable acidity. Finca Sandoval uses Moravia Agria in blends to add freshness and acidity.

Howistheterroirreflectedinthe winesofFincaSandoval?

Finca Sandoval is driven by the desire to make wine that reflects the specific terroir of their various plots. For example, La Fundamentalista is a field blend sourced from a high elevation plot where old-vine Bobal is coplanted with Moravia, Marisancho and Tortosina. The fruit is co-fermented, allowing the vineyard character to shape the wine. The resulting winesshowgreatverticality,acidityandfreshness.

Salia, on the other hand, is composed of Syrah, Bobal and Touriga Nacional from separate plots. They are vinified separately to preserve the identity of their growing site. The predominantly clay soils yield wines that are round on the palate with more volumeandintensefruit.

FINCASANDOVAL PORTFOLIO:

Fundamentalista, Salia, Finca Sandoval, Signo Bobal, La Rosa, Aurora

SingularitiesoftheWinery

FincaSandovalhasworkedtoputManchuelabackon the viticultural map, recovering the best of the area’s vines and winemaking traditions. Their combination of new and old technology is uncovering layers of expressionoftheirfruitandterroir.

WhyisFincaSandovalaGrandes PagosdeEspañawinery?

Finca Sandoval is a founding member of GPE. Victor de la Serna has long been a champion of single-estate wines that display characteristics of a particular soil type, orientation, microclimate or cultivar – the definition of pago wines. Like fellow members, they produce wines in harmony with the soil,climateandnatureofeachpago.

FincaSandoval

Varieties

80% Syrah, 15% Bobal, 5% Moravia Agria

Vinification

Vinified with 40% whole cluster fruit, spontaneous fermentation with natived yeast; aged 18 months in large foudres

GoodtoKnow

Blend from the best parcels of the Casablanca vineyard

Varieties

60% Syrah, 25% Bobal, 20% Touriga Nacional, 5% Garnacha

Vinification

Vinified with 40% whole cluster fruit, spontaneous fermentation with native yeast; aged 10 months in 300 L French oak barrels

GoodtoKnow

All fruit comes from the same municipality

Located in the Montes de Toledo region, in the area of influence of Cabañeros Natural Park, Pago de Vallegarcía is known for a pioneering spirit that brought the great traditions of French viticulture to Spain. The wines seek to give expression to singular terroir formed in the valleys of the Montes de Toledo. The results have been stunning, such that renowned French winemaker Eric Boissenot – the man behind many of the world’s most famous Bordeaux –now lists Vallegarcía as his only Spanish project. With a restless spirit and commitment to innovation, Vallegarcía stands poised to continue its work in making unique, terroir-driven Spanish wine.