Uva de Vida is a small, biodynamic farm in the Santa Olalla area of Toledo. Maria Carmen López Delgado started her project in 2005 after she found herself beating a serious illness through realizing that intimate work with the earth and all of its energy, could rejuvenate her own ailments. "If we take care of the earth, we take care of ourselves. Life has given me a new opportunity." Together, with her husband Luis Ruiz, they work in the dry and extreme continental climate of Castilla with 9.5 hectares of Graciano (a fairly rare red grape in Spain, let alone Castilla), and 3 hectares of Tempranillo. Without even the use of copper or sulfur in the vineyard, they have a sincere passion and dedication to keeping their land perfect, in order to produce incredible grapes, situated between cereal fields and Cornicabra Olive groves. Music accompanies the vines and the cellar, in order to move subtle energy around using the gentle vibrations of sound waves. The Mandala image on the label of each bottle is their own complex geometric diagram of their vineyard (at 40˚ latitude), which outlines these energetic vibrations that are so crucial to their biodynamic farming practices.
Further Label Information: The 8 pointed star references the Arabic & Jewish past of Toledo, which represents the connection between heaven & earth, the stable balance between spirit (cosmic) and matter (telluric). Also, it pays homage to the ancient Mediterranean civilizations that worshiped the sun, which they represented with 8 rays as a hallmark of spiritual realizations, representing the sum of all aspiration, a symbol of life that inspires us.
UVA DE VIDA - VIRTUAL VISIT
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
uva de vida 'luna'
graciano & tempranillo The Uva de Vida Luna comes from the estate’s youngest vines, which has an electric energy behind it that shows through in a clear and dynamic way. This is a blend of both Tempranillo and Graciano, which came from a bleeding of the grapes in order to give a bright fresh color and a light, fresh, chillable red in the glass. Native yeast and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, and after the malolactic has finished, the wine sits and naturally clarifies before it is bottled, with no filtration and no added sulfites. The result has a dark red rose hue, and has an aromatic floral quality that is backed by fresh berry fruit, and hints of earthy dust. In the mouth, the wine is fresh with acidity, but has enough grip from the tannic nature of the grape to keep the structure in line with the lifted fruity quality, and long spicy finish. Best served at cellar temperature. 
uva de vida 'latitud 40' graciano
100% graciano Uva de Vida ‘Latitud 40’ Graciano takes its name from the location on the earth where the winery sits – 40˚ Latitude. The grapes are hand harvested from the north and southeast facing slopes of the vineyards, where there not any strict mono-culture, as they share the space with olive trees and cereal fields. After a 4-day cold maceration, the grapes begin to naturally ferment in stainless steel tanks with pump-overs twice a day until nearly a month passes when it has finished, and goes into a vertical press before relaxing back into stainless steel. The finished wine is vibrant and fresh on the nose with hints of lilac, menthol, and under ripe red cherries. On the palate, a flush of wild blueberries, black cherries, and cool mint crowd together with good acidity and soft yet persistent tannins. The finish is long and juicy, with ample texture, blueberry skin, almonds, and a touch of cocoa nib. Serve slightly chilled. |
uva de vida 'biografico' tinto
graciano & tempranillo Uva de Vida Biográfico Tinto is made with biodynamically farmed grapes from the estate’s northeast and southeast facing slopes. A blend of Graciano and Tempranillo, the grapes are fermented with only ambient yeasts in stainless steel tanks, before a rest for about six months in the same vessels. The wine naturally clarifies and is not filtered nor sees any additions of sulfur before bottling, and is then released as a fresh expression of this blend. Dark in color, yet light in character, the aromas are a mix of spicy fruit, a touch of fresh earth, and hints of purple flowers. The palate is dynamic and bright, balancing between the spicy tannin of the Graciano, and the earthy fruit of the Tempranillo, offering bright red cherries, a bit of lilac, and a slight earthy umami quality. 
uva de vida 'latitud 40' graciano roble
100% graciano The Uva de Vida ‘Latitud 40’ Roble is named after the 40˚ latitude position of the winery, and the importance of their place in the universal energy that guides so much of the estate’s practices. The wine is made from only Graciano grown on northeast and southeast facing slopes that are shared with olive trees and cereals, and is brought to the cellar for about 3 to 4 days of cold maceration. A natural fermentation in stainless steel takes place with 2 pump overs a day, before it goes through a vertical press and then into used French barrels for one year. Aromas of roasted cherries, bitter dark chocolate, black fig, walnuts, and spice box lead into a rich palate of black tea, tobacco leaf, and dark port-like characteristics. The mouth is surprisingly full of fresh acidity, is quite long on the finish, and lingers with spicy tones and dark brambly fruit. |
uva de vida 'sol de 19'
graciano & tempranillo The Uva de Vida Sol del 19 comes from both Graciano grapes and Tempranillo, from gorgeous young vines planted on the estate’s clay and limestone soils. A natural fermentation in steel tanks took about 18 days to complete, and remained there through malolactic, and naturally decanted for two full years before bottling without any sulfite additions. The nose is dynamic, full of wildflowers, spicy fruits, violets and fresh earth. It leads to a smooth although very fresh palate, with a lovely balance between spicy tannin (from the Graciano), and a silky texture (from the Tempranillo), with notes of cherry, blueberry, and earthy umami. The wine is wild and earthy and ideal for bean dishes, pasta, cured meats, and hard cheeses. 
uva de vida rosado ancestral
100% tempranillo The Uva de Vida Ancestral Rosado comes from the estate’s young Tempranillo vines, and comes from a portion of the fruit that is used for the winery’s still Biografico Tempranillo. The grapes are hand harvested and treated like the Rosado, having only spent several hours on the skins versus days or weeks. During natural fermentation, when the must still has sugar that is fermenting, the juice is placed into bottle under crown cap, so that the fermentation may continue yet the CO2 has nowhere to go except for into the wine. Once complete, the bottles rest until the wine is ordered, and the dead yeast cells are disgorged to order, leaving a clean and finished and very fresh ‘pet-nat’. This ancient sparkling method brings such incredible texture and mouth feel to the finished wine, expressing dark floral tones, bright lively fruit, and all the while with an earthy balance. |