2023 Envinate Vinos Atlantico Tinto "Benje", Canary Island, Spain

ABOUT THIS WINE

Sourced from organically farmed, ungrafted vines planted at 900–1,200 meters above sea level in Santiago del Teide on the island of Tenerife, the 2023 Benje Tinto is a field blend centered around Listán Prieto (a.k.a. Mission or País), with small percentages of other native varieties like Listán Blanco. The soils here are ancient, deep volcanic ash—black, sandy, and rich in minerals—producing wines of incredible freshness, texture, and salinity.

Harvest is done by hand, with native fermentations taking place in open-top concrete vats. Maceration is gentle and partial whole-cluster inclusion adds a vibrant, spicy edge. The wine is aged for 8 months in neutral French oak barrels to preserve its purity and allow subtle development.

This vintage reflects classic Benje character: smoky cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry tones interwoven with black pepper, thyme, and a persistent iron-like minerality. It’s an alpine red with the soul of a volcanic island—an honest, unadorned wine that thrives with a light chill.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Envínate (meaning "wine yourself") is one of Spain’s most compelling modern wine projects, founded by four friends—Alfonso Torrente, Roberto Santana, Laura Ramos, and José Martínez—who met in oenology school and share a passion for reviving ancient vineyards and forgotten regions. Their work in the Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife, focuses on minimal-intervention wines that express the unique volcanic terroir and the island’s indigenous grape varieties.

The Benje series comes from remote, high-elevation plots where farming is done by hand, often with the help of mules, in tiny volcanic amphitheaters. Fermentations are native, additions are minimal, and sulfur is used sparingly, if at all. The wines are alive, aromatic, and driven by place—not process—making Envínate a standard-bearer of the “New Spain” movement.