Herdade do Rocim Indigena, Alentejano 2023

Herdade do Rocim is associated with the Sustainable Program of the Alentejo Viticulture. This wine is made from organically grown grapes; 70% of the vineyard is certified and the remaining 30% is in conversion. The estate is situated on the Vidigueira fault, a 30 mile long east-west facing escarpment which rises to 420 metres. The fault significantly influences the climate, trapping the cool, humid Atlantic winds, so despite its southern location it is one of the most temperate sub regions in the Alentejo. These cooling and humid influences descend at night, creating diurnal temperature differences of 15°C which extend the ripening period; with the warm days concentrating the flavours in the grapes, while balancing natural acidity is retained during the cool nights. The soils are of granitic and schistous origin. The vineyard is made up of older and younger vines; the latter are trained according to the Cordon Royat method. The fruit was manually harvested at optimal maturity.

The Alicante Bouschet grapes were carefully selected to ensure the best quality fruit was vinified. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks. The wine was aged in concrete tanks without the influence of oak, to allow the freshness of the Vidigueira terroir and the purity of fruit to be fully expressed.