November 2024 Blanco y Branco Club

Viños López 2023 El Ventilador, Valdejalón Regular Price: $21.99 Club Price: $ 18.69 Buy Now

Viños López, established in 1970, is a family-owned winery located in Épila, within the Valdejalón region of Aragón, Spain. The winery is recognized for its commitment to organic viticulture and the revival of traditional grape varieties. Under the guidance of winemaker Mario López, the estate focuses on producing wines that reflect the unique terroir of Valdejalón, an area often overshadowed by its neighboring appellations.

Viños López, a family-owned winery established in 1970, is situated in Épila within the Valdejalón region of Aragón, Spain. The estate is dedicated to organic viticulture, focusing on traditional grape varieties to produce wines that authentically represent the local terroir. Under the guidance of winemaker Mario López, the winery emphasizes sustainable practices and minimal intervention, allowing the unique characteristics of their vineyards to shine through.  Viños López's commitment to organic practices and the authentic expression of local grape varieties has garnered attention from wine enthusiasts seeking distinctive Spanish wines that honor tradition while embracing modern winemaking techniques.

The 2022 El Ventilador Blanco is a white wine crafted from a blend of 70% Garnacha Blanca and 30% Macabeo, sourced from the estate's vineyards, La Bodegaza and Las Cellas, which are over 25 years old. These vineyards are cultivated organically, yielding an average of 5 pounds per vine.

The winemaking process begins with manual harvesting at optimal phenolic ripeness, followed by a 48-hour refrigeration at 4°C to enhance primary aroma extraction. After destemming, the grapes undergo a 24-hour skin maceration at 10°C to intensify aromatic quality and mouthfeel. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at 16°C, preserving the fruit's characteristic aromas.

The resulting wine displays a bright lemon-yellow color with greenish tones. Aromatically, it is fresh, clean, and intense, with pleasant notes of citrus, white flowers, pear, and tropical fruits. On the palate, it shows volume and body, yet remains silky and elegant, with well-integrated acidity that imparts freshness and persistence, evoking fruity and floral sensations.  With "aromatic whites" being all the rage, and with holiday meals involving white meat almost here, our palates nominated this to be our November white wine of the month after the first sip.  We hope yours does, too!

Niepoort V.V. Bical - Maria Gomes Vinhas Velhas Regular Price: $49.99 Club Price: $ 42.49 Buy Now

Portuguese white wine can sometimes have the unfortunate stereotype of being easy, fruity, and quaffable (we’re looking at you, Vinho Verde). In reality, the country’s white production is deeply varied, and the Barraida DOC is a great such example. Tucked between the cold Atlantic and the Serra do Caramulo mountains of the Dão, this region is cool and humid and can be characterized by chalky clay-rich soils. The wines here are precise, with bracing acidity and low alcohol.

The unique climate and terroir of Barraida piqued the interest of the historic Niepoort family, who you may know for their port wine, leading them to purchase the Quinta de Baixo estate in 2012. The estate is modest in size, just 22 hectares, and contains plots that range from 80 to 100 years of age. The family's winemaking here is minimal intervention and classically Old-World. 

The grapes that make up this wine are Bical and Maria-Gomez, two local varieties. Indigenous yeasts are allowed to ferment the wine over a slow and steady 20 day period, no enzymes nor additives are introduced. The wine is then aged in large, neutral oak, German foudres for one year on the lees (or dead yeast cells) which add texture and nuance. 

Chablis enthusiasts rejoice! This wine is light bodied and has electric acidity. The lees aging adds texture and length, while the alcohol remains a conservative 11%. Lemon zest and white flowers greet you on the nose, white crunchy white orchard fruit meet you on the palate. A lovely combination of raw almonds, chalky mineral, and hints of clotted cream round out the tasting experience. Have with seafood, creamy cheeses, or hot pintxos.