The singladuras were maritime voyages that typically lasted 24 hours. In just one day, the vessel would reach its intended destination. The familia Navajas, founders of the Montecillo winery, had their own, named El Vapor de Montecillo. Today, the winery of the same name pays homage to this history with Montecillo Singladuras Albariño.
This Rioja enterprise has ventured to the DO Rías Baixas, specifically to Salnés, for the production of this single-varietal white made from albariño. There, they have found the "ideal" vines for this wine, close to the Atlantic coast, with a high level of humidity that helps preserve the freshness and delicacy so typical of these wines. Unlike other regions where the grape ripens earlier, this type of climate will delay the harvest until September.
At the Montecillo winery, Singladuras Albariño is processed swiftly to prevent oxidation and is completely destemmed before going directly to the press, where very gentle pressures are applied. Only in this way can a must of good quality be obtained, which, after alcoholic fermentation, transforms into a wine of more than mere interest. This process, where the yeasts metabolise the sugars in the wine to convert them into ethanol, will take place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Here, in these vessels, Montecillo Singladuras Albariño will undergo malolactic fermentation, achieving great complexity on the palate, complemented by a brief ageing on lees over several months.
And you? Do you need further explanations to embark on this journey with Montecillo Singladuras Albariño?