Technical information

Winery: Altolandon

D.O.: Manchuela

Variety: 100% century-old Garnacha.

Alcohol content: 14% vol.

Tasting note:

It has a deep picota cherry color. On the nose, it is highly reminiscent of red fruit, as well as confectionery notes.

On the palate it has noticeable but not intrusive tannins, as they combine perfectly with the wine’s acidity and spicy touches.

Serving temperature: 15 - 16º.

Viticulture: organic and vegan.

Geology and soil: the ungrafted vineyards are planted in sandy and calcareous soils. As for the climate, they benefit from the dry Mediterranean winds, which are very favorable for fruit ripening.

Winemaking: the grapes spend a short period in 1000-liter tanks, with the skins macerating in their own juice. Fermentation takes place without any intervention and always spontaneously. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed and undergoes malolactic fermentation in the same clay jars, also in a completely natural way.

Pairing: this red wine is perfect for many dishes, including soups, cheeses, vegetables and rice dishes.

Pairing: at Made in Spain Gourmet we especially recommend this wine with meats, but also with semi-cured goat’s and sheep’s cheeses, soups, vegetables, and our rice from Dehesa de la Albufera.

The Winery
Located in Landete, in the province of Cuenca, at a point between three provinces: Valencia, Cuenca and Teruel, at 1100 meters above sea level, at the highest point.
The estate covers a total of 200 hectares, with the winery located in the middle.
ALTOLANDON’s philosophy is to make quality wines and, therefore, quality grapes. For this reason, they take the utmost care over everything related to the vineyard from the moment it is planted, choosing the varieties, rootstocks and clones best suited to their climate and to each type of soil.

The highlands offer the ideal conditions for top-quality production, giving the wines unique and special characteristics in the world. Wine is born from the grape, but the altitude at which it develops and the terroir it comes from are fundamental to the final result.

The higher the altitude, the greater and better the solar radiation, and therefore the greater the temperature range. More altitude means more tannins. Altitude provides a refreshing effect that increases acidity levels thanks to the temperature range, as well as an accumulation of aromas and flavors.

These climatic conditions mean that during the final months of the grape’s growing period, it ripens slowly and over a prolonged time. This produces tougher, smaller berries with a higher proportion of skins than pulp, which is essential for red wines, since tannins are found in the skins. Wines made from these grapes offer a wide range of color, breadth and depth of aromas, and great complexity on the palate. They also become much more suitable for barrel aging, because the higher the acidity and proportion of tannins, the greater the possibility of obtaining wines for cellaring.

The grape reaches a high degree of perfection. The result: wines with their own personality:

"Wine is made in the grape"

Organic Farming
At Altolandon they respect the environment, which is why all their plots are farmed organically. At altitude, the winds clean the air and the vegetation enjoys excellent health thanks to the absence of pesticides. In addition, soil fertility is stimulated only with natural fertilizers. The grapes must express themselves in the wine and show the characteristics of the place they come from, without make-up or additives.

The Soils
The entire estate is divided according to varieties and soil types. A study was carried out prior to planting to indicate which varieties would be most suitable for each of the different soil types: poor, low-yielding, sandy-loam and stony soils.

Each of the different soils contributes different “nuances” to the grapes, which are what give the wines the particular characteristics of the place they come from. ALTOLANDON’s philosophy is to make quality wines and, therefore, quality grapes. For this reason, they take the utmost care over everything related to the vineyard from the moment it is planted, choosing the varieties, rootstocks and clones best suited to their climate and to each type of soil.

The Varieties
They have a wide selection of varieties such as Malbec, Syrah, Garnacha, Merlot, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc as red varieties, and Chardonnay or Muscat Petit-Grain as white varieties, all selected and adapted to the land where they are located.

The vines are trained on 2.30-meter-high trellises, achieving a very significant leaf canopy. Planting density is 4,000 plants per hectare, creating competition between the roots and thus producing smaller, higher-quality grapes. Only organic cultivation procedures are used.

Water, soil fertility stimulated solely with natural fertilizers, fully organic treatments, as well as meticulous work throughout the year such as raising the vegetation up to three times, leaf removal to ensure perfect grape ripening, and green pruning to limit yields to a maximum of 1.5 Kg per vine, all in favor of a powerful concentration of aromas and flavors in their harvests.

REGULATORY COUNCIL OF THE MANCHUELA DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN

In 1997, a group of winegrowers and wineries from the La Manchuela region created the Pro-Vinos Association Manchuela Designation of Origin, with the aim of regulating, defending, promoting and marketing the wine of the future designation.

The D.O. Manchuela began to represent a group of wineries in the provinces of Albacete and Cuenca that were starting to stand out internationally for the high quality and uniqueness of their type of wine.

In 2000, Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment officially recognized its activity in regulation, defense, promotion and support for commercialization.

In July 2017, the Manchuela Designation of Origin changed from being a Producers’ Association to an Agri-Food Interprofessional Organization.

Since its beginnings, it has carried out significant work to promote the image and flavor of its wine, both in the domestic and international markets.

Choosing the quality and image of the Manchuela Designation of Origin is a safe bet that is already bearing fruit.

The effort of its people, the love for their land and a culture committed to wine are the reasons that guarantee its success.