06/06/2017
Wines from our region
The province of Alicante is synonymous with sun, fun, fiestas, magnificent rice dishes and a great quality of life. Being faced with this reality which has always been appreciated, both by those who have the immense luck of living here, and by those who visit us from different points of Spain or from other countries to enjoy our idiosyncrasy, our beaches and our landscapes. Among all these fantastic qualities that adorn our land, something that should also be highlighted is the production of magnificent wines with denomination of origin "Wines of Alicante".
Throughout history, we know that, although the Iberians already cultivated it, it was probably the Phoenicians who around 500 BC introduced the grape vine. Even so, the Romans were the great cultivators of this fruit in our land for the production of wine.
It has been the favorite wine of many royals, such as Louis XIV (the Sun King). It is also the favorite of countless ecclesiastical Renaissance figures, as well as leaders of literature such as William Shakespeare.
In our region, the Monastrell grape, which constitutes an authentic native variety with which the best wines are made, stands out and is internationally recognized. This type of grape is endowed with the most unusual qualities of the Marina Baixa of Alicante, which are the sun and the salinity (by the proximity of the sea). These are undoubtedly attributes that give this grape a personal character totally Mediterranean.
It is essential to mention the Fondillón, this Alicante wine has been present throughout history at the best tables in the world. In the orchard of Alicante and in coastal zones the clusters of Monastrell grape were cleaned, and then left in the sun. In the interior areas, the Fondillón was obtained from grapes left longer in the sun on the vine, which were harvested long after the normal harvest. After the treading of the grapes, the juices as well as all the pulp is put into oak casks, in which it is left to ferment for a month. The amount of sugar produced with this system easily provided a wine of up to 18 º, and is then transferred into traditionally aged casks.
The Wines of Alicante became established with the creation of Denomination of Origin Alicante in 1932 and with the constitution of its first Regulatory Council in 1957.
It was in the 90's when new wineries began to add innovation to the traditional ones, and once again talking about the Alicante PDO Wines until they reach the moment of maturity, today they are stored in new facilities, new wines, winemakers and Young winegrowers, prizes, recognitions and the improvement in the diffusion of all this great wine culture.
Today, our maitre, Silvestre Aguilar, gives us his tasting notes of El Sequé from Artadi wineries in Pinoso.
- Look: High middle layer, chaste color with violet reflections, clean and bright.
- Smell: Frank aromas of ripe grape, a mixture of red fruits and dried figs. Reminders of new timber of your childhood.
-Taste: Intense attack recalling ripe red fruits and figs. A warmth produced by well-integrated alcohol, astringent taste, long and persistent.
This wine is ideal to accompany this spring season with a dish that we mentioned in one of our past publications. It is a dish created by our Chef Jean Marc Sanz, which we call Pigeon Araiz, loquat chutney and lemon grass, toasted interiors. This way, you will be able to taste one of the best products of our land, the loquats of Callosa d'en Sarria.
