Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente

For the cellar masters of the D.O. Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda it is essential for their work to keep an eye on the weather. On weekends, especially in autumn, winter and spring, it is vitally important to know whether or not it will rain during the two days. Everything must be well prepared for the rain. Depending on this, we shouldn’t be surprised if the workers, before finishing for the day on Fridays, leave the windows open, with the esparto curtains drawn. Yes, that’s right. And it’s nothing to do with jealously guarding and protecting the wine, it’s because in the south of Andalusia, they are looking for humidity, which is so good for the yeast cap. In part, this humidity comes from the Poniente, a cold and humid wind that comes from the Atlantic and that together with the Levante (another much warmer wind), form the perfect pair to bring balance. 

Depending on which wind prevails that year, the manzanillas will have totally different characters. This is exactly what happens with La Arboledilla. In this large winery, where Barbadillo stores 1,500 barrels, there is room for everything and unique wines are made with differences created by the orientation. This is the case with Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente, a Manzanilla En Rama from a selection of casks made from the western part of the winery, facing the sea and under the influence of the Poniente and the sea breezes. This wine goes hand in hand with Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Levante, its opposite, which comes from the eastern part of the winery, in a darker corner that is sheltered by the Levante. The distance between the two locations is barely one kilometre (no more than 180 meters), but it is surprising to see the contrast between the two manzanillas. They come from the same place. Both are made from the same must, but the nuances are totally different: Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente is much fresher and finer with more elegant touches. Montse Molina, Barbadillo’s winemaker, is the specialist who manages each of these nuances and unique characteristics.

Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente is made with Palomino Fino, the typical local grape, which grows on albariza. This soil, with a calcareous and porous nature, easily retains the area’s rainfall, which falls abundantly between October and April. During the rest of the year, with hot, dry summers, these water reserves ensure the survival of the vines (which are also cooled by westerly winds and sea breezes). Barbadillo currently owns 500 hectares of vineyards.

In the winery, the grapes are received and processed. From there it goes directly to pressing, a very important part of the manzanilla winemaking process, because depending on the quality, the must will be aged in one way or another. The first press, known as the free run juice, and making up 65% of the total volume, is reserved for biological aging; the second batch, known as “Segunda Yema” (second pressing), makes up 23% of the total, is obtained through higher pressures and intended for oxidative aging. Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente is in the first category, and is placed in casks where it will spend 5 years aging. During this time it will be under the protection and influence of the yeast cap, a unique phenomenon that only occurs in the Jerez area. This layer of yeast, which appears on top of the wine, will protect it from the environment (preventing oxidation) while consuming substances from the wine. Finally Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente is bottled unfiltered and unclarified.

Note: we recommend trying Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Poniente alongside its contrasting Barbadillo Manzanilla Arboledilla Levante