Entre Vinyes Oníric Sota Terra 2023

Entre Vinyes is the venture of Maria Barrena, of Azul y Garanza, and her partner Josep Tort in the Baix Penedès in Catalonia. Oníric Sota Terra is an orange wine from Macabeo, the workhorse white of the region, here given the skin-contact treatment that turns it amber. The vines sit on the warm coastal terraces of the Penedès, where Mediterranean light ripens the fruit while sea breezes keep the acidity intact. The wine is fermented and aged for three months in clay amphorae, vessels that allow gentle oxygen exchange without the imprint of oak. That short maceration on the skins draws phenolics and a fine grip from the grape, while the porous clay rounds the texture and builds a savoury, slightly oxidative edge. The result is pale amber in colour, with a nose of orange peel, white peach and dried herbs. The palate is dry and textured, with apricot and chamomile fruit, a light tannic frame and a saline finish that reflects the coastal soils. Natural and organic in the cellar, it carries little added sulphur. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a wide glass, with grilled white fish or a plate of fresh goat cheese.