Tenerife, Canary Islands
100% Baboso Negro
It is really uncommon to see Baboso Negro vinified alone, as it can be challenging to grow. Los Pasitos from Suertes really put this grape variety on the map. The grapes are picked by hand and foot trodden before spending three weeks on the skins. The wine is aged in neutral french oak for 14 months on the fine lees, before being bottled withot filtration.
Tenerife has a long and fascinating winemaking history, indigenous varieties such as Listán Negro and Blanco, Tintilla and Baboso Negro. Many vineyards are made up of 100 year-old+ ungrafted vines. Jonatan Garcia runs the family winery that is located in the Orotava Valley on the north side of the island. Many are grown in a traditional trellising system called Cordon Trenzado - vine branches are braided together and supported on stakes, and eventually grow into gnarly arms sometimes several meters in length. The estate has some incredibly old, low-yielding vines and produce wines that have freshness, balance, purity of fruit, minerality and an authentic terroir character.