In the heart of Spain, where the sun beats down on the arid landscape, a remarkable wine project is taking shape.
Nestled in the Jumilla Designation of Origin (DOP), Bodegas Viña Elena is on a mission to produce exceptional terroir-driven Monastrell wines that encapsulate the essence of this unique region.
Bodegas Viña Elana commitment to terroir
Bodegas Viña Elena, a name synonymous with quality and tradition, is a winery that has been passed down through generations. Located in the picturesque region of Jumilla, the winery is committed to preserving the heritage of the land while innovating to create wines that truly stand out.
The focus of Bodegas Viña Elena is on producing terroir-driven wines, a term that refers to the unique characteristics of the geography, geology, and climate of a specific region that impart a distinct flavor and aroma to the wine. The winery believes that the terroir of Jumilla, with its continental Mediterranean climate, poor and stony soils, and high altitude vineyards, provides the perfect conditions for growing Monastrell grapes.
The Allure of Monastrell
The Monastrell grape, also known as Mourvèdre in France, is a Mediterranean treasure. It flourishes in the warm, dry climate of Jumilla, where the grapes bask in ample sunshine and draw nourishment from the region’s distinct soil composition. This unique combination of factors imbues the Monastrell grape with a characterful personality, yielding wines bursting with flavor and complexity.
Bruma del Estrecho: A Journey into Terroir-Driven Monastrell Wines
The rolling hills of Jumilla, Spain, are home to a unique vineyard collection called Bruma del Estrecho de Marin. Here, amidst the sun-drenched landscape, thrives the Monastrell grape, a varietal known for its charming character and capacity to produce exceptional wines. But Bruma del Estrecho is more than just a vineyard; it’s a passionate project driven by Elena Pacheco and Isio Ramos, who are dedicated to crafting high-quality Monastrell wines that capture the essence of their terroir.
A PROJECT BORN FROM A BURNING PASSION FOR MONASTRELL AND WINE
This remarkable venture is the personal initiative of Elena Pacheco and Isio Ramos, with the goal of crafting 100% Monastrell wines from carefully selected vineyards within the DO Jumilla region.
Leveraging viticulture and winemaking techniques learned from local experts, they expertly produce wines that fully express the unique characteristics of the microclimate, soil, location, and vine age.
The elements that shape a wine’s flavor can be distilled into four primary factors: climate, soil, vines, and viticulture. Among these, the soil plays a crucial role in determining whether a grape variety will fully realize its potential.
Monastrell, in particular, exhibits a diverse range of flavors depending on the type of soil it is cultivated in, be it sandy, clay, rocky, or chalky.
In this exceptional collection of vineyards, expertise is blended with the passion inherited from the region’s seasoned viticulturists and their traditional land-working methods. This fusion is what lends uniqueness to these wines, enabling to create refined, fresh, and vibrant wines from Jumilla’s indigenous grape variety: MONASTRELL.
A Celebration of Place and Passion
Bruma del Estrecho’s Monastrell wines are more than just beverages; they are liquid expressions of the Jumilla terroir. Each sip unfolds a story of sun-drenched vineyards. With every bottle, Bruma del Estrecho invites you to embark on a journey into the heart of Jumilla, where nature and human dedication converge to create exceptional wines.
The Monastrell Vineyard Collection
Paraje Marín
The Viña Elena bodega is nestled in an area known as Estrecho de Marín, a valley framed by two imposing mountains: “Rajica de Enmedio” to the east and “Solana Sopalmo” to the west. This region within DO Jumilla is recognized as the warmest and driest, where relentless efforts are directed towards cultivating balanced, fresh grapes, thereby challenging the conventional notion of over-ripeness.
Our vines are strategically planted on both slopes of the valley. The eastern vines, receiving less sunlight, contribute freshness, minerality, and elegance to the wine. Conversely, the western vines, basking in ample sunlight, impart the distinctive maturity and warmth inherent to the Monastrell grape variety.
These vines are pruned in the traditional goblet style and planted with a conventional spacing of 2.8×2.8m. They are rooted in permeable, stony soils that effectively retain the limited rainfall the region receives. To endure the harsh drought conditions, the vines drive their roots deep into the soil, tapping into the scarce moisture hidden beneath.
Parcela Vereda
The unique feature of this plot is the clear presence of two types of soil. One part is a slope with white, calcareous, and poor sand that imparts a saline character to the wine. At the bottom of the slope, there are deposits of slightly more clay-like soil, which is much cooler.
The wine from this plot exhibits pleasant fruity nuances and good acidity. However, this acidity is somewhat masked by a pronounced salinity that is evident on the palate.
Finca CQ
Finca CQ, an abbreviation for Casa Quemada, is situated in the Término Arriba area of Jumilla, at an altitude of 700 meters.
This valley is sheltered by the eastern shadow of the Sierra de la Cingla and the Peña Rubia to the north, creating a diverse landscape in terms of soil types and orientations. Here, 47 hectares of Monastrell grapes, with an average age of 32 years, thrive and mature.
Over the past seven years, we have been engaged in a significant vineyard recovery project. Within each identified geographical unit of the Finca, we conducted five soil tests to determine texture, composition, and solar radiation intensity.
Our findings revealed a wide range of soils, from sandy, deep soils with organic matter and low active lime content to more robust, clay-like soils with green marls, and others with sandy conglomerates of limestone.
The Finca also includes sloping areas with low water retention and zones along the margins of the Rambla de la Cingla, where sediment deposits create deeper soils with higher water retention.
The resulting wine is a blend from various plots within the Finca Casa Quemada, primarily with a northern orientation and diverse soil types (limestone, iron-rich, and marl) and textures (clay, sand, and stony).
Terroir-Focused Winemaking Approach
Bruma del Estrecho is a testament to the power of terroir and the dedication of passionate winemakers. Their Monastrell wines are a celebration of Jumilla’s unique character, offering a glimpse into the soul of this sun-drenched Spanish region. So, if you’re looking for a wine that tells a story, look no further than Bruma del Estrecho.
