Nin-Ortiz, Priorat, Spain

NIN-ORTIZ

Nin-Ortiz is a small and special wine estate in Priorat owned by Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz. They are known for their biodynamic approach and their wines are rated fantastic every year! True cult wines made with attention and passion.

In 2004, Ester and Carles started with just 1 hectare of vineyard. Esther is a biologist and oenologist at Clos Eramus. She comes from the high Penedès, where they also have vineyards, and Carles takes responsibility for the vineyards. The vineyards are planted on extremely steep slopes, sometimes 650 metres above sea level, one of the highest vineyards in the entire Priorat. In this year, the first wine was also released, albeit just one barrique, and it was immediately highly praised and acquired cult status: the Nit de Nin 'Mas d'en Cacador'. Today, they have 13 hectares of vineyards, of which 12 hectares in Priorat and 1 hectare in Penedès. They now make 8 different wines that are praised time and again for their purity, finesse and complexity.

THE METHODS OF NIN-ORTIZ FOR ELEGANT AND PURE WINES

Ester and Carles work according to biodynamic principles. They therefore only use organic products and pesticides. The vineyards are planted on so-called 'costers' (directly on the slope), instead of on terraces, which is often done here. All work in the vineyards is done by hand and the ploughing is done by a mule to breathe new life into the soil. The harvest is also completely by hand, which is done early, when the pH values are still low. In the cellar, a strict selection takes place again, in which the overripe and damaged grapes are removed. The grapes are then cooled again to prevent oxidation. They work with spontaneous fermentation, often in large foudres or amphoras. They want to keep the wines as elegant and pure as possible, so they only use neutral wooden barrels for maturing the wines.

SOME GRAPE VARIETIES HIGHLIGHTED:

They mainly work with the Garnatxa and Carinyena grape varieties.

Garnacha Negra is one of the most planted grape varieties in Spain. A grape that loves the Mediterranean sun and is resistant to diseases. The grape has a thin skin with little pigment and relatively low tannin and acids. It produces mainly fruity, ripe wines with a lot of roundness.
Garnatxa Peluda is a native grape variety from Catalonia. 'Peluda' literally means 'hairy'. This name comes from the hairy or downy leaves. The grape produces slightly lower alcohol than the 'normal' Garnatxa and has a medium acidity.
Carinyena, on the other hand, is a grape with a thick skin, which produces tannic and full-bodied wines with a nicely present acidity.