Spanish Vegan and Organic Explorer's Case
Our vegan and organic Spanish mixed cases are the perfect opportunity to delve into and explore the world of organic and vegan wines!
A journey of discovery through the vegan and organic wines of Spain. A 6 bottle Mixed Case containing 6 different Spanish wines with are both organic and vegan.
Aren’t all wines vegan? The short answer is no. In reality, though most wines are vegan friendly, however, the EU and US don’t currently require wineries to list the fining agents that have been used on the label. The traditional fining agent is the part of the winemaking process that can make wines unsuitable for vegans. This is because it usually contains egg whites or casein. These products have, however, started to be moved over to a lot of vegetable-based products instead.
In order for a wine to be organic 95% of the ingredients used must come from organically produced plants or animals and the grapes must be grown without the use of artificial or synthetic chemicals such as pesticides or herbicides. It is also worth noting that not all organic wines are vegan friendly and not all vegan wines are organic.
Read more about vegan and organic wine here.
This case will allow you to explore Spanish wines that are both Vegan and Organic!
First off we have Bodegas Altolandon ‘Enblanco de Altolandon’, a fantastic orange wine ‘light’ from near Valencia on Spain’s East coast. Great as an aperitif with nuts and olives.
Next up we have Pasion de Boba, a generously appealing, barrel fermented, organic Spanish red from Utiel-Requena west of Valencia. Big, but not heavy it’s ideal to go with hard cheeses.
Moving to Jumilla we have Pacheco Organic Monastrell, a full-bodied organic red from eastern Spain. A lot of wine for the money, this is the epitome of well made Monastrell.
Next to Galicia with The Flower and the Bee Treixadura, Ribeiro, a very drinkable, fruity and complex Spanish white.
The penultimate wine, in this case, is Bodegas Verum ‘Ulterior’ Graciano Parcela No.17, a highly awarded, rich, organic Graciano from La Mancha. Quite versatile however we would suggest maybe avoiding more citric dishes.
Finally, we have Cellar del Roure ‘Les Prunes’ Blanc de Mando Rosado, a dry, fresh, minerally, biodynamic rosado from near Valencia. really refreshing and perfect with lunch in the hot sun.
This Case Contains:
Bodegas Altolandon 'Enblanco de Altolandon' 2020
Suitable for Vegans and Biodynamic
In a nutshell:
Fantastic orange wine 'light' from near Valencia on Spain's East coast.
The lowdown:
Altolandon are based inland of Valencia at 1100m in altitude producing a great range of accessible organic wines, many made as naturally as possible. Enblanco is a 50-50 mix of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, hand harvested and fermented on the skins in large 1000 litre amphora, the skins giving the wine a bit of added colour, light tannins, and an extra whack of flavour. Thanks to being grown at altitude the nights are cold, and that big difference in day and night time temperature means there is also plenty of natural acidity adding balance and backbone. Punchy aromas of stone fruits, minerals and anise, along with apricot and citrus notes. The palate is rounded and refreshing with lively acidity and elegant, concentrated flavours.
When to drink:
Great as an aperitif with nuts (especially almonds) and olives, but try with baked fish, and especially North African and Middle Eastern lamb or goat based dishes.
Pasion de Bobal 2019
Suitable for vegans and certified organic
In a nutshell:
A generously appealing, barrel fermented, organic Spanish red from Utiel-Requena west of Valencia.
The lowdown:
Bobal is a widely grown, if not widely known Spanish red grape variety, whose home is the hot and dry vineyards of the Valencian interior. Historically it's gone into a lot of bulk wines, but in recent years a number of quality-conscious producers have been keen to show what it can do when carefully looked after. Here Manuel Olmo of Bodega Sierra Norte uses old, low yielding vines from their high altitude Feunteseca estate, the fruit of which is fermented and aged for 6 months in a barrel. The resulting wine has a lovely open nose with plenty of ripe blackberry and plum fruit, savoury hints and a note of vanilla. The palate is well-balanced with dark fruits, toasty oak, fine tannins and a generous and lifted finish. There's bags of wine for the money here.
When to drink:
Big, but not heavy it's ideal to go with full-flavoured beef or lamb dishes, or with hard cheeses and charcuterie.
Pacheco Organic Monastrell 2019
Suitable for vegans and certified organic
In a nutshell:
A full-bodied organic red from Jumilla in hot, south-eastern Spain.
The lowdown:
Elena Pacheco, the winemaker at Viña Elena specialises in getting the best out of the area's dominant red grape, Monastrell. Organically cultivated, non-irrigated bush vines are the source of the fruit here. The wine is made without oak ageing and is meant to be enjoyed young and vibrant. It has bright aromas of fresh raspberries, red cherries and strawberries together with some floral notes. On the palate, there's lots of dark, sweet, spiced fruits with notes of balsamic vinegar and spice. With plenty of weight, it's vibrant, refreshing and well-balanced with an elegant finish.
When to drink:
A lot of wine for the money, this is the epitome of well made Monastrell.
The Flower and the Bee Treixadura, Ribeiro 2020
Suitable for vegans and biodynamic
In a nutshell:
A very drinkable, fruity and complex Spanish white from the northeastern region of Galicia.
The lowdown:
This delicious Galician white is made from 100% Treixadura which is a grape only really grown in this part of Spain and northern Portugal (where it's known as Trajadura). Hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel this makes a lovely full-flavoured wine with vibrant citrus and orchard fruit aromas. With a soft, rounded and generous nature on the palate, the rich fruit flavours together with a slightly oily, creamy texture and a fresh, crisp finish of ripe citrus fruits and minerals make this a very interesting wine indeed.
When to drink:
With its balance of freshness and fullness, this is great to pair with seafood and tomato sauce-based dishes.
Bodegas Verum 'Ulterior' Graciano Parcela No.17 2016
Suitable for vegans and certified organic
In a nutshell:
A highly awarded, rich, organic Graciano from La Mancha.
The lowdown:
Bodegas Verum's relatively new, exciting Ulterior project is about producing organic wines made traditionally from both forgotten, historic, regional varieties and new varieties to the region that are future proof with regards to the changing climate. Graciano, a variety more commonly found in Rioja and Navarra, is one such new introduction to La Mancha and what a wine Verum have made with it! For such a hot part of Spain Graciano can still produce wines that are high in acidity and have relatively modest alcohol levels and so have found a new home in this part of the country. 10% has been aged in larger oak barrels with the rest in traditional very large clay jars for 10 months, and then at least a further 1 year in a bottle in cellars before release. Black fruit, violet and floral aromas with garrigue notes lead onto a rich and intense palate with those black fruit notes coming through, a nice bite of spice and black pepper, smooth tannins, and fresh, balanced acidity.
When to drink:
Quite versatile. Maybe avoid more citric dishes. Try with grilled red meats, ham, and especially chorizo based dishes.
Celler del Roure 'Les Prunes' Blanc de Mando Rosado 2018
Suitable for vegans and biodynamic
In a nutshell:
A dry, fresh, minerally, biodynamic rosado from near Valencia.
The lowdown:
A white wine made from a red grape that has turned out pink! Mando is an incredibly rare variety almost exclusively saved from extinction and grown by Celler del Roure in the hills of Moxient south of Valencia. Working biodynamically the grapes are handpicked and then very gently pressed with the free-run juice fermented as you would a white wine, before being matured for 6 months, partly in underground amphoras. The result is a really dry, fresh and clean rosé with lots of minerality, pure stone and citrus fruit with some savoury touches and lots of crisp acidity.
When to drink:
Really refreshing and perfect with lunch in the hot sun... Try with fish, rice and pasta dishes, or cold cuts.
