Mustiguillo Kit

Mustiguillo is a family winery located in the Valencian highlands on the El

Terrerazo estate Here, vines grow in a unique microclimate equally influenced by the nearby mountains and Mediterranean sea, making Mustiguillo unlike any other estate in the South. Focused on the recovery and celebration of native varieties such as Bobal and Merseguera, the estate is proudlyregionally-focusedandterroir-driven.Fromthoroughsoilstudiestocarefulorganicviticulture and explorations in biodynamic farming, the winery is at the forefront of new and exciting experimentsinSpanishwine.

KEYFACTS

CLIMATE: Continental climate with Mediterranean influence. Avg. temperature 56° F (14°C), precipitation 17 in. (438 mm)

ELEVATION:El Terrerazo 2,690 ft (820 m), Finca Calvestra 3,018 ft (920 m)

SOILS: El Terrerazo: calcareous soils of dolomitic origin, sandy-loam texture Finca Calvestra: limestone, silty-sandy texture of alluvial origin, small plot with marls

CLASS: DOP Terrerazo

HISTORY

Mustiguillo was founded on estate built in the 19th century and acquired by the Sarrión family in 1970. Yet, it's not until Toni Sarrión left his career in business administration and dedicate himself to winemaking that Mustiguillo as we know it today took shape. Mustiguillo is the pioneer and current benchmark for quality Bobal. In 2004, Quincha Corral 2001 was the first 100% Bobal wine rated by Robert Parker (95 points), while Decanter recognized Finca Terrerazo in 2014 as the best Spanish wine under 25£. In 2019, Mustiguillo celebrated the centenary of Terrerazo 1919, the first vintage produced at the estate and documented at the time by famed enologist and agricultural engineer Rafael Janini.

VINE: 264 acres (107 ha) across 47 plots

KEYVARIETALS:Bobal, Merseguera

ECO: EU certified organic. Elimination of all plastics in warehouse and packaging

INNOVATE: Conducting soil analysis, experimenting with biodynamics and sustainable practices like using sheep and their own compost to fertilize vineyards

Mustiguillo practices 100% organic viticulture, with emphasis on conserving the flora and fauna of the environment. To encourage soil health, they use natural compost of manure with pulverized pruned leaves and canes, as well as soil treatments such as tillage in alternate rows and vegetable cover crops. The cover crops are mixed (spontaneously mixed with fescue seeds, bromus and vetch) and defined according to the plot, variety, type of wine and winter rainfall. This helps encourages the vines to compete for resources.

THETEAM

With his passion and dedication, Winemaker Toni Sarrión is the heart of the winery. He has earned the nickname “Mr. Bobal” thanks to his efforts to promote this native variety..

The viticulture team is led by Irene Garcia and Fernando Garcia with a focus on biodynamic practices. Isabel Cano is the second winemaker leading day to day operations and putting into practice Toni’s philosophy.

Winemaker: Toni Sarrión

TERROIR

The vineyards are located 63 miles (100 km) inland from the Mediterranean on the western edge of Valencia province.

Pago El Terrerazo and Finca Calvestra sit at 2,690 ft. (820 m) on the edge of the Sierra de Negrete, where the Castilla highlands reach the border of Valencia. Here, the extreme continental climate is gradually influenced by the milder Mediterranean conditions, resulting in high oscillation of diurnal temperatures (+-68ºF, 20ºC).

El Terrerazo rests on a limestone layer of Dolomitic origin. The soils are generally homogeneous, but include loamy patches with remarkable alkalinity, or pockets of sand. Toni Sarrión prioritized understanding the soil composition from the beginning, opening test pits to observe each plot and identify those with the potential for single-parcel expression, like Finca Calvestra Margas.

GOODTOKNOW

In 2010, DOP El Terrerazo became the first single estate denomination in the Mediterranean region.

VITICULTURE&WINEMAKING

NATIVE VARIETIES

Mustiguillo focuses on expressing origin by working with native grapes like Bobal and Merseguera, believing that these grapes best transmit a genuine sense of place. Before the efforts of Mustiguillo, these varieties were largely underrated and seen as more suitable for bulk production.

LOW YIELDS

Bobal and Merseguera are naturally vigorous, productive varieties. Toni Sarrión employed many techniques to lower yields; bunch thinning, cover crops and dry farming were among key options to successfully cultivate high-quality grapes.

LOW INTERVENTION

Mustiguillo believes low intervention winemaking is the key to crafting the terroir-driven wines that will best express the character of their pagos. Parcels are fermented separately, exclusively with native yeasts and free-run must. Avoiding over extraction, gentle racking by gravity and use of neutral vessels like old oak or concrete for maturation will preserve the elegance and Mediterranean flavors.

Agingpotentialisone of Finca Calvestra’s virtues. This rare quality for a Mediterraneanwhite wine results from carefulwinemaking and Merseguera’s lowpH.Thewine’s typicity starts to show from the fourthyearonwards.

Howistheterroirreflectedinthe winesofMustiguillo?

The terroir of Mustiguillo is perhaps best understood through their Bobal wines. The fruit of Finca Terrerazo is marked by the extreme climate, high elevation and its old vines, giving it a distinctive Mediterranean character, intense color and balanced acidity.

Old-vine Bobal is planted among groves of pine, oak, and olive, as well as rosemary, fennel, and thyme that tinge the fruit.

The expression of the limestone soil is noticeable in a slight chalky sensation on the palate, a savoriness and a vertical nose, resulting in a long, elegant wine.

SingularitiesoftheWinery

Their pagos El Terrerazo and Finca Calvestra, are a viticultural benchmark for Bobal and Merseguera. Toni Sarrión has worked to study all aspects of each individual plot individually, with a persistent curiosity to understand the estate’s terroir.

WhyisMustiguilloaGrandesPagosde Españawinery?

Committed to respecting the origin and typicity of their wines, Mustiguillo joined GPE to promote visibility of their unique terroir. Mustiguillo has found a home with the other GPE wineries, where all work to learn more about their land, vines and the surrounding environment.

MUSTIGUILLOPORTFOLIO:

Quincha Corral, Finca Terrerazo, Finca Calvestra Margas, Finca Calvestra, La Garnacha, Mestizaje Blanco, Mestizaje

FincaTerrerazo

DOP El Terrerazo

Varieties

100% Bobal

Vinification

Maceration, fermentation and 18 months aging in 35

HL and 50 HL French oak vats. Only free-run wine is aged

GoodToKnow

Fruit from two single plots, one planted in 1945 and the other in 1970

FincaCalvestra

Vino de España

Varieties

100% Merseguera

Vinification

6 hours cold maceration. Fermentation and aging in 225 and 500 L acacia barrels with native yeast. 11 months aging on fine lees

GoodToKnow

Vineyard altitude 3,018 ft (920 m). Merseguera is grafted on old, dry-farmed Bobal vines