These are times of innovation, and new ideas are coming to
market, yet still within the rules of production. Recently, Delgado Zuleta
surprised the market with the launch of Goya XL, a Manzanilla “reposada” – or pasada
– and bottled en rama. It impressed experts who already know the bodega’s long history
(established 1744).
The idea with the new wine is to go further, to the grapes
and vineyards themselves, where Jose Cabral is cultivating his grapes to the
strictest ecological regulations, certified by the relevant authorities. The must
from the grapes is very carefully fermented at the Cooperativa Catolica Agricola
and taken to Delgado Zuleta bodegas where it is filled into butts, carefully selected
by the bodega’s enologist, Manuel Barba, and placed in an ideal area for its
crianza (ageing).
The Consejo Regulador is already involved in the project,
along with the food and agriculture laboratory which will monitor progress. The
plan is to create a new scale every year for the initial solera and eventually
run the scales in a way which will produce the correct development of the flor
to produce the final product – the organic Manzanilla.
The project started off with only a couple of butts, but is developing
and will be constantly monitored by all the parties involved, who will also analyse
the opportunities for the wine in markets where the adjective “organic” is
highly valued. There is no doubt there is a market for these wines and there is
plenty of scope. The En Rama concept has
helped to reawaken consumer interest in Sherry, and the new organic Manzanilla
will surely add to it.
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