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Gran Castillo Rocío Brut RoséHammeken Cellars
Gran Castillo Rocío Brut Rosé is a cava from Catalonia, the birthplace of the appellation, between the hills of Penedès and the Mediterranean coast. The grapes come from vines over 30 years old, grown under a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, tempered by sea breezes. This setting ensures steady ripening while preserving the acidity essential to sparkling wines, along with red fruit of fine clarity.
This cava is made using the traditional method, with a second fermentation in bottle, as in Champagne. It is made from red grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Grenache and Mourvèdre. The wine then rests for around nine months on the lees before disgorgement, giving it fine bubbles and a rounder texture while retaining its freshness.
This wine reveals notes of strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, cherry, grapefruit, lemon zest, apple blossom and brioche. The pale salmon colour heralds a fresh nose of citrus and small red fruits. The palate, light and thirst-quenching, offers lively bubbles, fine, tangy tension and a clean, fruity finish.
Where are we traveling?
CataloniaSpain
Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is Spain’s second city and home to one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. This seaside location has certainly benefited the region’s wine industry throughout history, as have the millions of tourists who flock to the city each year. Catalonia is considered distinct from other Spanish wine regions due to the versatility of its wine styles. France exerts a strong influence on two of its best-known wines, the sparkling Champagne-style Cava and its red table wines, which have similar characteristics to those produced in Roussillon, just across the Pyrenees. Not surprisingly, given its geographical location, Catalonia’s climate is strongly Mediterranean, with warm coastal areas experiencing moderate rainfall. The interior is more like the arid plateaus of central Spain, although there are many cooler areas between the foothills and on high ground where the region's trademark Cava is grown. These include Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo and some Chardonnay.
The sub-region: Montsant
Montsant is a wine region in Catalonia, northern Spain. This gently rolling region was once classified as a sub-region of Tarragona, but local winemakers felt that the high-altitude vineyards of the area had earned it recognition as a DOC in its own right. As a result, the Montsant Designation of Origin was created in 2001, named after the Montsant massif ("sacred mountain") that dominates the region's landscape. Montsant's most prized vineyards are located on steeply sloping terraces, often interspersed with pine, almond and olive trees (the region is also known for its excellent olive oils). Here, the vines enjoy intense Mediterranean sunshine during the day and relatively cool temperatures at night. This high diurnal temperature variation encourages the development of complex aromas in the grapes, while preserving vital acidity. Praise for Montsant's quality wines is growing louder as the international market becomes increasingly aware of the region's potential.
The little history of the country
Spain
The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.
All about Gran Castillo Rocío Brut Rosé
At what temperature should Gran Castillo Rocío Brut Rosé be served?
Between 6 and 8 °C, well chilled.
How long can Gran Castillo Rocío Brut Rosé be kept?
Ageing potential: 1 to 5 years. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Gran Castillo Rocío Brut Rosé?
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Grenache, Mourvèdre. Origin: Catalonia, Spain. Alcohol: 12%.