Fondillón

Fondillón is an oxidatively developed wine from the Alicante growing area on the Spanish Mediterranean, which is counted among the dessert wines . Only overripe Monastrell grapes are used. After pressing, the grape must is poured into open vessels and exposed to atmospheric oxygen and heat. After a few weeks, these partially oxidized musts are put into the cellar using the Solera system and matured there for about ten years. The alcohol content is between 16 and 18  percent by volume . After initially red-violet color in young wine, Fondillón turns golden yellow after aging . Raisin and wood notes dominate the smell.

This winemaking technique was demonstrably used as early as the 15th century , but was forgotten at the end of the 19th century in the wake of the phylloxera plague , but also for other reasons such as the land consumption due to the beginning of tourism. Cultural greats such as William Shakespeare , Daniel Defoe and Alexandre Dumas have honored him with their literary work. Having been re-established since the early 1950s, its reputation has increased year by year.

Similar manufacturing processes can also be found in other regions of Spain and France , for example in Mistela and Rancio , as well as in Madeira in Portugal .

Web links

• Photo of traditional clay pots used to oxidize wine in neighboring Castile

literature

• John Radford: The New Spain , 1st edition, Mitchell Beazley, ISBN 1-84000-928-4
• Jeremy Watson: The NEW & CLASSICAL wines of Spain, 1st edition, Montagud Editores Barcelona, ISBN 84-7212-087-2