COSECHEROS REUNIDOS, WII GONZALO GONZALO GRIJALBA, Northern Spain Wii Gonzalo Gonzalo was born in Logroño, Spain and grew up among the vineyards that their parents cultivated in Fuenmayor. After studying biology in León and oenology in the university of Rioja, they dedicated themselves to travelling through France and Italy where they met small vine-growers and winemakers and discovered new varieties of grape and technologies. After completing their oenologist training in an industrial winery, in 2003 they abandoned everything to give birth to their own oenology project. The vineyards for Gran Cerdo were planted 35 years ago on calcareous clay soils. Gonzalo and helpers, Teresa and Fernando, tend the vines methodically, and with perfection in mind, year-round and work only with the best grapes they can coax from the land for their project. They also follow the lunar cycle in vineyard and the winery. Gran Cerdo is all about the purest expression of fruit with whole bunch fermentation, no filtration, no stabilization and minimal sulphites. The wine has real character, all the juicy elements of Tempranillo, with no oak to mask its charm. With its cherry-red, purplish, brilliant colour, Gran Cerdo reveals primary notes of fresh fruit, strawberries, raspberries, cherries and violets with clean mineral tones from the granite. This little natural wine is phenomenal value.
