Curii ‘Una noche y un día’ Tinto 2021
Location: Spain, Alicante
Winemaker: Alberto Redrado & Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega
Grapes: Gíro
Soil: calcareous
Winemaking: The grapes were harvested by hand, partially de-stemmed and foot-trodden in open vats. Fermentation is with native yeast and the juice stays on the skins until alcoholic fermentation has completed. The wine is then racked without pressing to steel vats and raised 6 months on the fine lees.
From the Importer Jose Pastor Selections: ‘Una noche y un día’ is comprised of 15 to 60-year-old organically-farmed Giró (the Alicante clone of Garnacha) grown at 350 meters elevation in the Valle de Xaló, Alicante. It is a fresh and vibrant vino tinto, true to its Mediterranean roots, with soil-driven and uplifted aromatics of citrus flowers, scrub brush, anise, blue and red fruits; the palate is medium-bodied and elegant in structure with a chalky sensation, spice, and aromatic fruit in the finish. Serve cool and perfect to pair with the local Paellas of the region, pasta with tomato sauce and herbs, stewed meats, and dishes with saffron.
Alicante is home to one of the most diverse and breathtakingly beautiful terruños in all of Spain. Mountains hover in close-proximity to the Mediterranean ocean with old bush vines planted on rocky, calcareous soils, and the ever-present sun giving energy to these vineyards. For Alberto Redrado and Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega it is the ideal environment to produce profoundly Mediterranean wines that show the tensions between the sun and soil, scrub brush and sea salt. Unfortunately, the recent vinicultural history of this region has spoken less of its environs and more to market forces, with ‘bigger-is-better’ (modern flavor bombs) and ‘more-the-merrier’ (bulk wines) being the two dominant wine styles. With Violeta and Alberto’s Curii Uvas y Vinos, we see a turning point in Alicante - wines that fulfill the promise of this enchanting landscape.
The couple now work just over 3 hectares of head-pruned vineyards in the Valle de Xaló, Teúlada, and the Sierra de Bernia, all located within the limits of D.O. Alicante (but the couple have chosen to say ‘no thanks’ to appellation approval). Their great focus is on revitalizing the indigenous clone of Garnacha, locally called Gíro. According to the couple, the grape arrived through the port of Denia in the early 19th century and can only be found in vineyards planted before the 1970s or via selection massale for new plantings. The grape was originally planted in the Marina Alta, but can be found throughout Alicante. In the Valle de Xaló, the grape ripens earlier thanks to lower elevation and heavier soils, giving a shorter cycle and more fruit forward wines when young. In the Sierra de Bernia, Giro ripens later thanks to higher elevation and better soils, which gives “tastier” wines, richer in alcohol, but also higher in acidity, making the wines more age-worthy. Curii compares the Gíro grape to Cannonau from Sardinia for its higher acidity and aromatic complexity. Curii also works with the obscure Trepadell Blanc and Merseguera grapes from the town of Teulada for their white wine.
In 2016 the couple moved their winemaking out of Violeta’s family winery and into their own space in the village of Xaló. Now they have more space to focus on producing wines that are true to their Mediterranean roots, yet unique in expressing their passion for their native Alicante. The results are some of the most aromatically compelling and authentic wines we have tasted from southeastern Spain. There is little doubt that we have a new Iberian classic in Curii.
Location: Spain, Alicante
Winemaker: Alberto Redrado & Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega
Grapes: Gíro
Soil: calcareous
Winemaking: The grapes were harvested by hand, partially de-stemmed and foot-trodden in open vats. Fermentation is with native yeast and the juice stays on the skins until alcoholic fermentation has completed. The wine is then racked without pressing to steel vats and raised 6 months on the fine lees.
From the Importer Jose Pastor Selections: ‘Una noche y un día’ is comprised of 15 to 60-year-old organically-farmed Giró (the Alicante clone of Garnacha) grown at 350 meters elevation in the Valle de Xaló, Alicante. It is a fresh and vibrant vino tinto, true to its Mediterranean roots, with soil-driven and uplifted aromatics of citrus flowers, scrub brush, anise, blue and red fruits; the palate is medium-bodied and elegant in structure with a chalky sensation, spice, and aromatic fruit in the finish. Serve cool and perfect to pair with the local Paellas of the region, pasta with tomato sauce and herbs, stewed meats, and dishes with saffron.
Alicante is home to one of the most diverse and breathtakingly beautiful terruños in all of Spain. Mountains hover in close-proximity to the Mediterranean ocean with old bush vines planted on rocky, calcareous soils, and the ever-present sun giving energy to these vineyards. For Alberto Redrado and Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega it is the ideal environment to produce profoundly Mediterranean wines that show the tensions between the sun and soil, scrub brush and sea salt. Unfortunately, the recent vinicultural history of this region has spoken less of its environs and more to market forces, with ‘bigger-is-better’ (modern flavor bombs) and ‘more-the-merrier’ (bulk wines) being the two dominant wine styles. With Violeta and Alberto’s Curii Uvas y Vinos, we see a turning point in Alicante - wines that fulfill the promise of this enchanting landscape.
The couple now work just over 3 hectares of head-pruned vineyards in the Valle de Xaló, Teúlada, and the Sierra de Bernia, all located within the limits of D.O. Alicante (but the couple have chosen to say ‘no thanks’ to appellation approval). Their great focus is on revitalizing the indigenous clone of Garnacha, locally called Gíro. According to the couple, the grape arrived through the port of Denia in the early 19th century and can only be found in vineyards planted before the 1970s or via selection massale for new plantings. The grape was originally planted in the Marina Alta, but can be found throughout Alicante. In the Valle de Xaló, the grape ripens earlier thanks to lower elevation and heavier soils, giving a shorter cycle and more fruit forward wines when young. In the Sierra de Bernia, Giro ripens later thanks to higher elevation and better soils, which gives “tastier” wines, richer in alcohol, but also higher in acidity, making the wines more age-worthy. Curii compares the Gíro grape to Cannonau from Sardinia for its higher acidity and aromatic complexity. Curii also works with the obscure Trepadell Blanc and Merseguera grapes from the town of Teulada for their white wine.
In 2016 the couple moved their winemaking out of Violeta’s family winery and into their own space in the village of Xaló. Now they have more space to focus on producing wines that are true to their Mediterranean roots, yet unique in expressing their passion for their native Alicante. The results are some of the most aromatically compelling and authentic wines we have tasted from southeastern Spain. There is little doubt that we have a new Iberian classic in Curii.
Location: Spain, Alicante
Winemaker: Alberto Redrado & Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega
Grapes: Gíro
Soil: calcareous
Winemaking: The grapes were harvested by hand, partially de-stemmed and foot-trodden in open vats. Fermentation is with native yeast and the juice stays on the skins until alcoholic fermentation has completed. The wine is then racked without pressing to steel vats and raised 6 months on the fine lees.
From the Importer Jose Pastor Selections: ‘Una noche y un día’ is comprised of 15 to 60-year-old organically-farmed Giró (the Alicante clone of Garnacha) grown at 350 meters elevation in the Valle de Xaló, Alicante. It is a fresh and vibrant vino tinto, true to its Mediterranean roots, with soil-driven and uplifted aromatics of citrus flowers, scrub brush, anise, blue and red fruits; the palate is medium-bodied and elegant in structure with a chalky sensation, spice, and aromatic fruit in the finish. Serve cool and perfect to pair with the local Paellas of the region, pasta with tomato sauce and herbs, stewed meats, and dishes with saffron.
Alicante is home to one of the most diverse and breathtakingly beautiful terruños in all of Spain. Mountains hover in close-proximity to the Mediterranean ocean with old bush vines planted on rocky, calcareous soils, and the ever-present sun giving energy to these vineyards. For Alberto Redrado and Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega it is the ideal environment to produce profoundly Mediterranean wines that show the tensions between the sun and soil, scrub brush and sea salt. Unfortunately, the recent vinicultural history of this region has spoken less of its environs and more to market forces, with ‘bigger-is-better’ (modern flavor bombs) and ‘more-the-merrier’ (bulk wines) being the two dominant wine styles. With Violeta and Alberto’s Curii Uvas y Vinos, we see a turning point in Alicante - wines that fulfill the promise of this enchanting landscape.
The couple now work just over 3 hectares of head-pruned vineyards in the Valle de Xaló, Teúlada, and the Sierra de Bernia, all located within the limits of D.O. Alicante (but the couple have chosen to say ‘no thanks’ to appellation approval). Their great focus is on revitalizing the indigenous clone of Garnacha, locally called Gíro. According to the couple, the grape arrived through the port of Denia in the early 19th century and can only be found in vineyards planted before the 1970s or via selection massale for new plantings. The grape was originally planted in the Marina Alta, but can be found throughout Alicante. In the Valle de Xaló, the grape ripens earlier thanks to lower elevation and heavier soils, giving a shorter cycle and more fruit forward wines when young. In the Sierra de Bernia, Giro ripens later thanks to higher elevation and better soils, which gives “tastier” wines, richer in alcohol, but also higher in acidity, making the wines more age-worthy. Curii compares the Gíro grape to Cannonau from Sardinia for its higher acidity and aromatic complexity. Curii also works with the obscure Trepadell Blanc and Merseguera grapes from the town of Teulada for their white wine.
In 2016 the couple moved their winemaking out of Violeta’s family winery and into their own space in the village of Xaló. Now they have more space to focus on producing wines that are true to their Mediterranean roots, yet unique in expressing their passion for their native Alicante. The results are some of the most aromatically compelling and authentic wines we have tasted from southeastern Spain. There is little doubt that we have a new Iberian classic in Curii.