2022 Melea Organic Tempranillo

Background

The creation of Melea Organic was a labour of love for us all. William Long spent years searching for the right winery to supply the organic, vegan-certified and wild-fermented wines, his son Freddie handled the launch and the label features an original bee motif created by his wife, artist Barbara Long, from recycled threads.

Named after a rare species of bee, everything about the range is created with sustainability in mind, from the lightweight bottles to the stone paper labels, made from a by-product of the quarrying process using a lot less water than normal paper. Melea was also the first Spanish wine brand to become a member of 1% for the Planet. Melea has donated thousands of dollars to bee conservation charities since its launch in 2020. Melea Organic also has an Instagram page to share information on the brand’s sustainable values.

The Vineyards

Fruit comes from organically certified, bush-trained, dry-farmed vines in the Cuenca area of La Mancha. The vineyards were planted in 1999 and are at an altitude of 660m with sandy-clay soils, low in organic matter and high in chalk and limestone. This suppresses yields to just 3-4kg per plant, giving greater quality grapes and red wines with the structure to age well. The extreme continental climate means there is a high diurnal temperature range conserving freshness and increasing aromatic intensity. The lack of rainfall reduces the risk of fungal diseases.

Production

Fermented with native yeasts, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in tank. Fined using vegan-friendly pea protein.

Producer

The family winery is located in Alicante and is a leader in the production of high-quality, organic wines. They are IFS-certified and produce wines with organic and vegan certification.