The wine is bone dry and fresh, with fine bubbles, clean floral notes and grassy aromas. Further notes of banana and citrus fruits are revealed, and the finish is crunchy with balanced acidity. This would work well with a number of dishes and would be delicious with tapas but would be particularly worth trying with paella Valenciana.
The blend is 75% Macabeo and 25% Parellada, selected from 20-year-old vines The initial fermentation is in stainless steel tank at 14°C. After one year ageing the wine is disgorged without adding any expedition liquor.
PAGO DE THARSYS, Requeña
Owned and run by Vicente Garcia and Ana Suria, this is an estate that is garnering a real following in Spain. The winery buildings are surrounded by its vineyards – an important quality factor, especially for sparkling wines in this hot part of Spain, as it means that the grapes, once picked, can be transferred quickly to the winery buildings, cutting the risk of spoilage by heat and oxidation.