Envinate, Lousas Vinas de Aldea 2020

95% Mencia + coplanted indigenous varietals (white and red) including Brancellao, Merenzao, Mouraton, Grao Negro, and Garnacha Tintorera

Ribiera Sacra, Galicia, Spain

Aldea means “village” in Gallego; thus, this is Envínate’s “village wine”, produced from a combination of –minimum- 60-year-old plots located in the ancient vineyard region of Ribeira Sacra. The native vines are grown on steep slopes made of slate and sit in between 400-600 meters elevation. 

Each of the plots was harvested and fermented separately in open-top concrete and plastic fermenters. Depending on the plot, a portion (ranging from 0% to 30%) of the grapes were destemmed and skin contact lasted between 25 and 60 days. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine was transferred to concrete tanks (20%) and used French oak barrels (80%) where it completed malolactic fermentation and rested on its lees for 11 months before bottling.