September days are very special for Bodega Sancha Pérez: it’s the time to harvest Tintilla de Rota. Since the beginning, we have been committed to recovering this native grape variety.

On September 14th and 15th, the hand harvest takes place, and the grapes spend a day in our cold storage at 5ºC to keep them at low temperatures. This stabilizes the grapes, favoring a pre-fermentation maceration that helps extract more fruity aromas and color.

After resting in cold storage, the grapes enter the winery and go through a manual sorting table, where unwanted grapes are removed before continuing with the winemaking process in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The aging cycle finishes in French oak barrels.

Tintilla de Rota was a pillar of the economy in past centuries, when it was known as Tinta Mencida. In 1804, the scholar Rojas Clemente noted in his Essay on the Varieties Growing in Andalusia that “Tintilla was cultivated in Conil, Tarifa, and Vejer, also known by other names such as Tinto, Tinta, Alicante, Tinta Mencida.” At Sancha Pérez, we wanted to bring this variety back to our land, and we have succeeded. Although every harvest is a joyful moment, gathering Tintilla de Rota is a special occasion.

Regarding its characteristics, Tintilla is a vine with an upright growth habit, late budding and ripening, and low vigor. The clusters are small, as are the berries, which are spherical and dark bluish-black with a thin skin. It yields a low amount of must, which has a high sugar content and medium acidity.

Our doors are open to anyone who wants to participate and share these moments. For any information, don’t hesitate to contact us.