Leading Ribera del Duero-based winery, Bodegas Protos, has launched a new estate in DO Cigales, in the heart of Castilla y Léon, entirely dedicated to rosé wine
The newly completed project aims to complement Protos’ estates in Ribera del Duero and Rueda, whose production is dedicated to red and white winemaking, respectively.
Construction began in Cigale's Cubillas de Santa Maria in 2018.
‘This category keeps increasing year after year, reaching 9.6% of the world’s total wine production,’ explained Carlos Villar, director general at Bodegas Protos, ‘so we see a great opportunity to present really good quality wines.’
The winery claimed that every detail at the new facility has been ‘geared towards rosé winemaking’. These include an on-site laboratory for colour- and must-quality analysis; a gravity-flow system for grape reception to protect fruit aromas; nitrogen generator to displace oxygen with inert gas to combat oxidation; tubular exchangers for cooling grapes and must to 8°C; and separate vinifications according to quality, colour, variety, and parcels.
A cool, dry climate, the availability of old vines (averaging 42 years of age), and a wide array of permitted grape varieties (including Tempranillo, Garnacha, Syrah, Albillo, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc), are some of the reasons behind Protos’ decision to invest in DO Cigales.
The inaugural vintage of Protos Cigales Rosé is expected to be released in January 2021.
Keen to learn more about rosé wine beyond Provence? Keep an eye out for our next print issue
