2023 Envinate, Tenerife, Benje Tinto

Envínate literally translates to “wine yourself,” which is a concept we can get behind! Directly after graduating enology school in 2005, four friends – Roberto Santana, Alfonso Torrente, Laura Ramos, and José Martinez – embarked on a mission with Envínate: to create wines of profound purity and unwavering focus and show the heights of what can be done with hard work and dedication in these previously unheralded terroirs. Their dedication extends to the very heart of their vineyards, where they employ extraordinary measures to ensure health and vitality. Focusing on the venerable old vines of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra, they produce some of Spain's most graceful and articulate wines. They do not use chemicals in the vineyard and rely solely on native yeasts for fermentation, their wines speak authentically of their origin. Envínate stands as a beacon of the new wave of Spanish winemakers, particularly along the Atlantic coast, masterfully capturing the essence of their unique terroirs in wines that are an unadulterated pleasure. Their versatility with a wide range of food makes them especially well-suited for the dinner table, but some can also be great for cocktails. These wines brim with unique character and provide a ton of pleasure. The Envínate philosophy is simple: let each parcel fully express itself in the finished wine by utilizing old-fashioned farming and winemaking methods. This is their flag-ship, every day drinker from just outside Santiago del Teide, high on the volcanic mountain Pico de Teide, overlooking the northwestern side of the island of Tenerife. The island experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. This is mainly Listán Prieto with 10% or so of Listán blanco.