This week we recommend a truly unconventional sparkling wine. This is not the first time that we have written about Mélangé, the cross-bred project of Bodegas Recuero This producer, based in Villanueva de Alcardete (Toledo) and committed to the recovery of local varieties and traditional winemaking techniques, has taken advantage of its family ties to the Sierra de Gata to develop a second project in this region, using grapes from the village of Villamiel (Cáceres). However, what we are presenting today is a third, more irreverent approach, consisting of a blend of grapes from Toledo and Extremadura.
This is a traditional method sparkling wine that blends an eclectic mix of grape varieties. About a third is Ojo de Liebre from the Sierra de Gata and the rest are grape varieties from La Mancha. Verdoncho, Pardilla and Malvar make up another third, and the last third is rounded off with early picked Airén grapes that provide the acidity required for the category.
Aged on the lees for about 24 months, the wine delivers pleasant apple and toasted bread aromas that give way to a vibrant, citrusy palate with good length.
It is reasonably priced (€14.5) and can be bought online at the Vinnac website.
Author
Amaya Cervera
A wine journalist with almost 30 years' experience, she is the founder of the award-winning Spanish Wine Lover website. In 2023, she won the National Gastronomy Award for Gastronomic Communication
