Mencia, Silvaspoons Vineyard 2023, NoneSuch Wines

Mencía is a very dark, aromatic grape from Bierzo, Galicia, and Ribeira Sacra in northwest Spain. It is also grown in Portugal, where it is known as Jaen. Mencía wines express their exotic floral aromatics, the full bodied silky tannin and soft acidity, with red fruit character and bright peppery notes. 

Ron Silva of the Silvaspoons Vineyard has been championing Iberian varieties for decades, with 21 varieties planted, including the first known planting of Mencía in California. Just one acre was planted in 2014 with clones originating from Bierzo, Spain. The vineyard is located North of Lodi and South of Sacramento in the Alta Mesa AVA, which sports the name “high table” because its hills rise higher than the flat areas around Lodi. Soils here are alluvial clay and gravel deposits left by the Consumnes and the American Rivers. It is one of the warmest appellations in Lodi making for more robust color and structure in the wine.

About the Winery

Embracing minimalist winemaking techniques in order to express vineyard terroir fully, the grapes are hand-harvested and foot tread, fermented whole-cluster naturally with native yeasts, and aged in entirely neutral oak barrels.