Photo via: http://chozascarrascal.com/vina/
Bodega Chozas Carrascal—located in Valencia, Spain—was founded by the husband-and-wife team of Julian Lopez and Jose Maria Peidro in 1990. The poetic-sounding name of the estate is based on the nickname (“Chozas”) of one of their grandfathers, and a type of scrub oak tree native to the Mediterranean (Quercus coccifera, aka carrascal) that—once upon a time—were widespread in the area.
Thirteen years after their purchase of the property—in 2003—the winery released its first wine. These early wines, bottled mainly under the Utiel-Requena DO, included a range of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines based on the traditional grapes of the region (Bobal, Monastrell, Garnacha, Tempranillo and Macabeo) as well as some international varieties, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Voigner, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2012, 30 hectares within the Chozas Carrascal estate were approved by the Spanish government as a Vino de Pago. Just a few days ago (on May 11, 2020), the designation was approved by the European Commission and published in the Journal of the EU. (It’s official!)
Bodega Chozas Carrascal continues to produce a wide range of wines, including reds, whites, and rosé bottled under the Utiel-Requena DO as well as sparkling wines (Cava DO). Their current releases include the following four wines bottled under the Vino de Pago Chozas Carrascal designation:
- Las Tres: a white blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Macabeo; barrel-fermented, fermented in oak, and oak-aged for 8 weeks with daily lees stirring
- Las Ocho: a red blend of 8 grapes; each grape is vinified separately with the final blend aged for 14 months in French oak
- Las Quatro: a young (joven) rosé made from co-fermented Tempranillo, Garnacha, Syrah, and Merlot
- Cabernet Familiar: 100% Cabernet Franc, aged for 9 months in new French oak
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The regulations of the Vino de Pago Chozas Carrascal allow for the production of these four styles of wine, in accordance with the following standards:
- 100% Cabernet Franc (monovarietal/dry red):
- Minimum of 5 months of oak aging
- Abv of at least 13%
- Dry red blends:
- Grape varieties: Bobal, Monastrell, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot
- Minimum of 5 months of oak aging
- Abv of at least 13%
- Dry white blends:
- Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Bland, and Macabeo (Viura)
- Fermentation must occur in oak barrels
- No aging requirement
- Abv of at least 12.5%
- Dry rosé:
- Grape varieties: Syrah, Merlot, Garnacha, and Tempranillo
- Stainless steel fermentation followed by “oak maceration” for a minimum of three weeks
- Abv of at least 12.5%
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The Chozas Carrascal property includes an olive orchard, a spa, and an impressive array of wine tourism/tasting experiences. Time to plan a road trip (once it is safe to travel again).
References/for more information:
- Journal of the EU – May 2020 – Vino de Pago Chozas Carrascal
- Pliego de Condiciones – Vino de Pago Chozas Carrascal
- http://chozascarrascal.com/
- https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-chozas+carrascal
- https://catavino.net/winery-of-the-week-chozas-carrascal/
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org