Vera de Estenas

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The site extends across a gentle slope from the Sierra Juan Navarro down to the flood plain of the Magro river, bordered by the Estenas dry riverbed (rambla), which drains the northern ranges of Utiel.
• The area sits above a shallow water table, with average annual rainfall of 430 mm, 52 rainy days, 2,600 sunshine hours, and 130 clear days per year.
• The vineyards are planted mainly on Miocene soils and, to a lesser extent, on Quaternary soils, with calcareous brown earths containing 38% total limestone and 14% active limestone.
• The soils display a low average electrical conductivity with no salinity issues, an average organic matter content of 1.5%, and a pH of around 8.5.
• The site contains a 2-hectare woodland that acts as a regulator of humidity and a buffer against the effects of wind and temperature fluctuation.
• The soils of the site contain 38% total limestone compared with an average of 25% in the rest of the comarca, and a pH of 8.5 against 8.2–8.3 in the surrounding areas.

• Registration of the appellation was applied for by Compañía Vinícola del Campo de Requena, S.L., a company created to bring together a group of vineyard owners located within the delimited zone.
• Aged red wines from this single-estate appellation must reach a minimum actual alcoholic strength of 12.5% vol, compared with the minimum of 10.5% vol required across the rest of DOP Utiel-Requena.
• The maximum permitted yield within the delimited zone is 7,850 kg/ha, within the 7,500–10,500 kg/ha range permitted across DOP Utiel-Requena as a whole.

• The wines are deeply coloured and bright, with primary aromas of ripe fruit that persist for several years, structured and harmonious on the palate.
• They show dense yet non-aggressive tannins, a high total polyphenol index in the reds, and a total acidity, expressed as tartaric acid, of between 5 and 6 grams per litre, making them well suited to ageing in barrel followed by bottle.

• The proximity of the water table moderates the diurnal temperature range, enabling a total acidity of around 5–6 g/l that is very well balanced on the palate.
• The woodland situated at the heart of the site maintains freshness during summer and encourages slow ripening of the grapes, resulting in very well-balanced acidity in the wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (pliego de condiciones).

All appellations in Spain

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• National pliego de condiciones (PDF)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-N1665
• Official trade body site — Vera de Estenas