Riccitelli Old Vines From Patagonia Torrontés 2019

The Torrontés grapes come from the traditional vine growing site of Allen in the Alto Valley in the province of Rio Negro, Patagonia, approximately half way between the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Situated on the 39° latitude south, the sunlight exposure is more intense than northern areas, but at this latitude the nights are much colder. This daily diurnal temperature range is excellent for the production of quality grapes; the nightly cooling-off extends the ripening period, allowing the grapes to develop rich varietal characteristics while retaining balancing acidity. The low-yielding vines were planted at the end of the 1960s and they are ungrafted allowing for complete interaction between the loamy soils and the vine. The vines are cultivated naturally following organic principles resulting in wines that are expressive of the terroir and their varietal characteristics. The grapes are hand-harvested once they have reached optimal maturity.

The grapes were carefully selected prior to vinification. 50% of the grapes were gently pressed prior to fermentation, while the remaining 50% were fermented on the skins, resulting in complex flavour development. Fermentation took place with wild yeasts in clay amphora at temperatures of between 16 and 18°C which lasted for several weeks. The wine continued to age for eight months, before being bottled without fining or filtration.