Cintila – Rose – 2023

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Cintila is made at the Cooperativa Santo Isidro de Pegoes, founded in 1958. The cooperative is made up of 140 winegrowers and has access to over 1,100 hectares of vineyard located in the Terras do Sado area of the Setubal Peninsula. This coastal area benefits from mineral-rich sandy soils and cooling Atlantic winds. Santo Isidro de Pegoes is one of the most forward thinking cooperatives in Portugal and their chief winemaker, Jaime Quendera one of Portugal’s most respected winemakers. Cintila, which means “shine” or “sparkle” is a dazzling range of fruit-driven wines which represent excellent value-for-money.

THE VINTAGE:
In 2023, good weather conditions allowed all the phenological states to occur within the normal ranges and the grapes reached good maturity levels with balanced acidity and sugar. The harvest took place at the end of August and into September and the resulting wines are beautifully balanced and express good varietal character.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The Pegões vineyard is located between two Nature Reserves: the Tagus estuary to the Northwest and the Sado on the Southwest. To the east are the Arrabida hills and to the west the Alentejo province’s clays. The unique soil here is named “Pliocenico de Pegões”. It is a sandy soil formed over millions of years by sand transported by the rivers Tagus and Sado. It is this Mediterranean climate and soil combination that creates this unique Pegões terroir.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were harvested earlier than those for a red wine, retaining good levels of acidity and freshness. They were immediately cooled, and the fruit underwent direct pressing in a pneumatic press, without maceration so the rosé colour remained delicate and pale. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The wine did not go through malolactic conversion and was made in an unoaked style. As a result, the style of the wine is fresh, pure and aromatic.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A light, fruity pale salmon coloured rosé with enticing aromas of fresh strawberries and cream complemented by a soft and rounded flavour and a spicy finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Castelão 100%.