The Gathering Storm White 2024/25, Spain

Most of the fruit for this wine is harvested from the Castilla-La Mancha, one of the most important winegrowing regions in Spain located in the heart of the country, with a smaller proportion sourced from nearby Valdepeñas. The region has a long winemaking tradition, dating back to Roman times, and its size and diversity of terroirs allow for the production of a wide variety of wines. Castilla-La Mancha has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters and the region's elevation helps temper the heat, especially at night. This allows the grapes to ripen slowly, preserving acidity while achieving full phenolic maturity. The soil is diverse, ranging from clay and limestone to sandy and slate-rich soils, which also contributes to the wide array of styles. This wine is made at the main winery in Valdepeñas with fermentation taking place in stainless steel tanks for up to 15 days. Their oenologists then blend Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc and short barriqued Chardonnay with the Chardonnay component short aged on its lees in American oak barriques. The finished product delivers enticing citrus and white peach notes with flavours of stone fruits and red apple with a hint of vanilla. It's great with fish tacos, manchego, seared asparagus or pork loin.