September’s days are really special to the Sancha Perez Bodega: it is the Rota’s Tintilla harvest time. We support the recovery of this native variety from the beginning.
On September 14 and 15, the harvest is carried out by hand. Then, it is stored in a cooling chamber in order to keep the grapes at low temperature, at 5ºC. In this way, the grapes stabilizes, subsequently favoring the prefermentative maceration and thus achieving greater extraction of fruit aromas and color.
After its cold rest, it will enter the cellar through the manual selection table. There the unwanted grapes will be separated from the bunches, to then continue the winemaking process in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. The aging cycle will end in French oak barrels.
In past centuries, the Rota’s Tintilla received the name of Tinta Mencida and was considered the base of the economy. In 1804, Rojas Clemente explained in his Essay about the varieties that grow in Andalusia that “the Tintilla was cultivated in Conil, Tarifa and Vejer where it received different names such as Tinto, Tinta, Alicante, Tinta Mencida”. At Sancha Pérez we wanted to bring this variety back to our land, and we have succeeded. Although the entire harvest is a moment of joy, collecting the Rota’s Tintilla is a unique event.
Regarding its characteristics, the Tintilla is a stump with an upright appearance, late sprouting and maturing and not very vigorous. The bunch is little as well as its berries, spherical in shape and dark bluish to black in color, with thin skin. With low output of grape juice, which is high in sugars and of medium sharpness.
Our doors are wide open for those who want to participate and share these moments. For any information, do not hesitate to contact us.