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Bodegas Evine is an ecological family-run winery operating under the Denominación de Origen de Yecla (D.O. Yecla) which produces small volumes of wine, the emphasis being on quality not quantity. Wine is sold principally to the domestic market with a growing channel of sales in the province of Alicante.
Bodegas Evine cultivates 60 hectares of vines, with a number of plots in the zones of Las Cabezuelas, Magán and Llano Quintanilla, around 7km from the centre of Yecla. The main variety cultivated is Monastrell, grown in a vase structure, without irrigation and with a low yield, but perfect for the Yecla climate and soil and able to adapt to climatic variations. Monastrell accounts for around 90% of annual production.
This area of Yecla receives very little in the way of rainfall (only around 300mm per year) and has cold winters and very hot summers, characteristics which lend themselves perfectly to the ecological production of Monastrell. There are two distinct soil types on the land cultivated by the Bodega, one area with a sandy-stony limestone soil and another which is a heavier clay mix. One third of the land is totally dry-cultivated and the other two thirds, which incorporates the non-Monastrell varieties, has the option of using additional irrigation should the summer be very dry.
The Monastrell vines on this finca are 20-35 years old and are left to grow naturally without forcing the yield by cutting back tips early in the season or producing excessive foliage. This helps to create a balanced wine with the vine naturally producing sufficient canopy to protect and nurture the grapes, protecting them from the elements without imparting a herbaceous quality to the wine. It also eliminates the need to use chemical responses to any infections caused by cutting the vines.
As well as Monastrell, the winery also grows small quantities of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The latter varieties are young vines, around seven years old, and further areas of Syrah are being planted with four year old stock following successful trials of the variety. Although they present a range of challenges for ecological production, this enables Bodegas Elvine to produce a wider range of products. A percentage of the annual production is aged in oak barrels.
All production is ecological, pest control is via pheromones and no chemicals are used in any stage of production.
The Bodega
Bodegas Evine was granted full ecological certification in 2010 (Certificación de Agricultura Ecológica) by the ecological agricultural council of the Region of Murcia.
However, production has been under way since the late nineteenth century, when the Martínez-Quintanilla family first began to produce their own wines from the family vineyards. The wines are produced today by the third generation of the family to produce own label wine, and the fourth generation of viniculturalists.
The former family bodega was located in Calle San Luis in Yecla but in 2003 the current premises were built in the countryside of Yecla in the centre of the vineyards, giving better, more modern facilities and increased space.
The family produce wine only from their own vines, ensuring that all grapes are ecological and have been produced conforming to ecological standards, as well as guaranteeing that production is sustainable in accordance with the climatic conditions of the area.
Wine production in this Bodega is highly personal and all of the tasks involved in the year-long process of creating an ecological product are carried out by a small, dedicated family unit. Grapes are hand-picked into small crates, before being cleaned and sorted manually in the Bodega installations.
Fermentation is undertaken in stainless steel tanks, giving complete control over the temperature and evolution of the wine. Part of the final production is aged in French and American oak barrels to produce a Crianza. (NB. Spanish wine labelling laws dictate that for the vintage of a wine to appear on the bottle, 85% of the grapes in the blend must be from the year of the vintage. A Crianza red wine must be aged for a minimum of 2 years, with 6 months of the aging process in oak barrels, and a Crianza white for at least 1 year with six months in oak).
Production levels are restricted to between 1,200 and 2,500 bottles, with prices ranging from 3.50€ to 16€ per bottle depending on aging.
Wines are produced under three principal brands; Evine, Llano Quintanilla and Kyathos, with both red and rosé on offer:
EVINE MONASTRELL-SYRAH
This is a “Tinto Joven” made from 80% Monastrell and 20% Syrah. It is aged for 2 months in American oak barrels.
LLANO QUINTANILLA CRIANZA
A Tinto Crianza made using 100% Monastrell, with six months in American oak.
KYATHOS
Tinto Crianza made from 100% Monastrell, aged for 18 months in a combination of French and American oak.
Wine tours
Bodegas Evine offers guided wine tours of its installations by prior arrangement, costing between 5 and 10 euros per head (including tasting). Families, groups and individuals are all welcome on Saturdays and Sundays bewteen 10.00 and 15.00, reservations by telephone on 677 692317 (Felipe).
Similarly, advance warning is necessary if an English speaker is to be present as the standard visits are offered in Spanish.
Parking is provided and it takes only 5 minutes to reach the winery from Yecla.
Address: Camino de Sax, km. 7, Paraje Las Cabezuelas,
Telephone: +34 653 997673
Website: bodegasevine.com
E-mail: info@bodegasevine.com / bodegasevine@gmail.com
• Casa Rural: Rural Accommodation
The family owns an attractive rustic Casa Rural, the Casa Máxima, which can be booked in conjunction with a visit to the Bodega or rented for a visit to Yecla. This is alongside the Bodega offering stunning views out across the surrounding countryside. The Casa Rural sleeps 6. Click Casa Máxima
There are also other accommodation options in Casas Rurales nearby for couples or smaller groups(see subject headings on left-hand side.)
Further information can also be found at www.rutadelvinoyecla.com.
If visiting Yecla don’t forget to make sure your first port of call is the tourist office (Plaza Mayor, 1, telephone 968 754104, email turismo@yecla.es).
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
