Ariyanas Rosado
A very special rosé, made totally from the rare Romé grape.
The steep old vineyards of Malaga’s Axarquía region maintain much of the diversity of vines that makes them unique. Among the varieties is Romé, the rare indigenous red grape, small quantities of which are found planted randomly, here and there.
Bodegas Bentomiz’s desire to preserve this variety led to the developing of this rosé, a wine faithful to the terroir and with great typicality; a result of the variety’s adaptation to its environment.
The vines are grown ‘en vaso’ – in a shallow pit, their branches creeping horizontally along the ground. Approximate grape production is 1kg per vine. The harvest is manual, using 15 kilo crates, with bunch selection made in the vineyard.
The grapes are de-stemmed and lightly pressed. There is no maceration pre-fermentation; instead spontaneous fermentation occurs in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged on fine lees for 8 months with a ‘batonage’ every 2-3 weeks. Clarification is through natural sedimentation.
Limited production of 2240 bottles – with the ability to age
Awards:
Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages – 17/20 points
- Best rosé of Andalusia
- Second best Spanish rosé overall
Like the winery name Bentomiz, which comes from the ancient castle on the mountain top opposite, Ariyanas is a place name – that of a Moorish hamlet that was next to the vineyard before the Reconquest. The word comes from the Arabic for “aromatic”, which is appropriate since Bentomiz’s wines are definately aromatic.
A beautiful deep pink rosé with stand-out minerality and freshness. Richly perfumed with hints of fresh red fruit and flower petals, roses and lavender. On the palate its red fruits are smooth, tasty and dry. A subtle and harmonious wine, with saline and floral hints in the aftertaste.
Very adaptable food match: serve as an aperitif, with seafood (especially shellfish or lobster) rice dishes, ceviche or Asian cuisine.
About the Producer
Bodegas Bentomiz
Bodegas Bentomiz is a boutique winery in the hills of Malaga – a rugged landscape, steep vineyards and spectacular views. Sheltered by the Sierra Tejeda mountains to the north, with the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the area provides the perfect conditions for producing fresh and delicate wines.
The owners moved to Andalucia in 1995, into an area with centuries of wine making tradition, their property having vines that they vinified for personal use. Clara then became a full-time winemaker with a passion for creating subtle styles, eschewing high alcohol and too much oak in favour the minerial and saline character from the land and sea.
Their 80 to 100-year-old vines flourish in slate soils at heights of between 500m and 800m. There is little, though sufficient, winter rains (recently just 5 days!) and long, dry summers; but the heat is softened by sea breezes – they are onlt 7k inland. The rugged landscape is not easy to work – mechanisation is not possible, hoeing and harvesting the steep slopes is by hand.
The vines are maintained as ‘bush vines’: the previous year’s shoots are trimmed off at the end of the winter so that the new sprouts grow into branches with leaves that form a bush and provide the fruit with an essential shade. Humidity is so low that the grapes can ripen on the ground without any risk of rot.
Bentomiz has successfully experimented with a combination of modern and traditional vinification techniques. Wines are fermented in stainless-steel, temperature-controlled tanks. Some are aged in oak barrels; others ‘on the lees’ in stainless-steel tanks.
Over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe serve their Ariyanas wines.
