Also spelled “Maina”, this fine
pago is thought to have been named in antiquity for the resemblance of its peninsular
or island-like appearance to one of the same name in Greece. This area was once
part of the Tartessian kingdom which had trading links to Greece among other
places. Extending to some 170 hectares, Mahina lies east and just a little
south of Sanlúcar at around 15 kilometres from the Guadalquivir estuary,
and is almost surrounded by river marshes. The lie of the land makes it
susceptible to the Levante wind which the ever encroaching wind turbines take
advantage of. Over the centuries small caves have appeared where silica soil
has been mined for pot making.
The soil here is probably the
purest and deepest albariza of the entire region with a lower limestone content
but a very high diatomaceous silica content – up to 80% in places - which makes
it very white. That, along with its amazing capacity for water retention means
it produces very high quality Palomino fruit and sapid muscular musts which
produce fine Finos, Manzanillas and Amontillados. There are also patches of
tosca barajuela and a bit more clay towards the east of the pago which has a
very low content of organic matter.
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| Viña La Charanga |
Of the 153 vineyards in the pago
the four most famous are Neva, Lacave, Vicario and La Charanga. Grapes from
Viña La Charanga, owned by “El Bolli”, are used by Alba Viticultores (La
Charanga), Ramiro Ibáñez (Ube Maina) and also
Antonio Bernal (Corta y Raspa). What was once Manuel García
Monge´s vineyard El Maestre with its handsome casa de viña is here too but the
building is now a wedding venue. Vinifícate also buy Mahina grapes for their
Mahara wine.
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| Viña El Maestre in Manuel Garcia Monge´s day |
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