‘Paraje Fuenticilla’

Powerfully delicious, salty, savoury, soul-stirring white made in tiny quantities from ancient vines. Winemaker Esmerelda Garcia travelled the world learning from incredible makers before returning home to Santiuste in Castilla La Mancha, Spain. There she carefully tends 4 sites of pre-phylloxera Verdejo planted 140 to 210 years ago (!). For Esmerelda, Verdejo is the greatest white grape in the world, and tasting her crystalline, energetic wines it’s hard to argue otherwise. The Fuentecilla, one of her 4 single vineyards, is 820 meters above sea level, with soils dotted with marine fossils and sediment. After hand-picking, grapes are pressed directly and fermented in clay amphora jars for 6 months, developing layers of dense texture. The most open of her wines, expect blooming white flowers, apricot scone, savoury thyme and ocean spray freshness. Pair with oily preserves, a lemony pasta or grilled fish and veg for a wildly special treat.