Terrior Inspired

Ask Club Member Hugo Del Pozzo if he would have predicted a near sell-out of his new korde rosé during covid, and in his classy yet gregarious manner, he would have laughed it off and humbly replied no. Yet not only has —his Tempranillo flown from the shelves, he also expanded PINEA’s headquarters during the pandemic. Covid-19 may be considered both a blessing and a curse, but a positive for the wine industry is that we’re drinking more wine than ever. What’s more, our collective “cheers!” celebrates the power of connection, and PINEA’s very mission is to foster memories via vino. Korde, in fact, means “the connection of hearts through words.”

Launched just seven years ago in Spain — and located in the heart of the famous Ribera del Duero winemaking region — PINEA, named after the massive canopy tree on their land, is the vision of Del Pozzo and co-partner Vicente Pliego. As determination and luck flourished, the partners lassoed one of Spain’s most applauded master oenologists, Isaac Fernandez, to helm the winemaking team. “Our mission was to produce something truly spectacular,” says Del Pozzo. “Isaac is extremely talented, and we wanted him to be able to paint his Mona Lisa, so to speak, with our wine.”

Terroir, of course, is paramount in producing wine, and the Pinea Estate’s location near Olmedillo de Roa (120 miles north of Madrid), is considered the Grand Cru region of the Ribera del Duero appellation. At 3,050 feet above sea level, biodynamic and sustainable viticulture practices are applied to mature vineyards (30 to 90+ years) planted in slightly varying soil types, with chalky sand and abundant limestone. Deeply structured rooting systems allow for vines to thrive under extreme temperatures without artificial irrigation. The result? Three, 100-percent Tempranillo wines aged in French and American oak — PINEA, 17 by PINEA, and Korde rosé — all of which capture the elusive combination the region’s best wines are known for: perfumy aromatics and complexity of flavor, with structure, balance, and a unique sense of place. If the wines are considered a family, think of the original PINEA as the grande dame, 17 by PINEA the elegant daughter, and the newcomer, Korde, the sassy young son.

The story of Korde, in particular, celebrates ambition and serendipity. “Vicente wanted to produce a Tempranillo rosé,” says Del Pozzo. “When we finally tasted it in March of 2020, we realized we may have lightning in a bottle.” The two were correct. Only 3000 bottles of Korde were produced, and after a buyer in Texas sampled it, he asked to acquire as much as possible. “Our wine disappeared during Covid in the middle of Texas,” Del Pozzo laughs. Today, a coveted amount of Korde remains for those lucky enough to experience it. The dry and sophisticated rosé is fermented in ceramic eggs, with extreme controls of temperature and careful maceration to maintain its rosé structure and minerality. It’s then aged in French oak barrels from the famous tronçais and bertranges forests. 

As Del Pozzo and his team look toward the future, the PINEA headquarters have been recently expanded — another silver lining of the pandemic. Though the new building allows for increased gravity-flow production capabilities and additional space for barrel aging, he still emphasizes the importance of terroir and viticulture. “The magic happens in the field,” he says. “It’s so satisfying to see a buyer or customer put a glass under their nose and be completely disarmed. Those ‘wows’ are so energizing.”-- pinea.wine