Sicus
Spain, Catalunya
The Story
The wines are made exclusively with grapes native to the area, which have adapted to their terroir over generations. They are not suffocated with herbicides or pesticides and are instead allowed to grow among naturally-occurring wild flora and fauna, with minimum intervention. This is as good for the local environment as it is to the contents of your wine glass. In fact, preservation of the natural surroundings is so important to Sicus that they even leave the soil un-ploughed, allowing grass, weeds, earthworms, ants and other species to flourish. Needless to say, synthetic fertilizers are out of the question, with the calcareous soils being allowed to do their work unhindered.
Even artificial irrigation is shunned in favour of allowing the local weather to dictate the qualities of the grapes, and therefore the wines made from them. Sicus describes each bottle of its wine as a “liquid synopsis” of the meteorological conditions in which the vines were grown.
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The People
Eduard
It was back in 2003 that Eduard began to hone his skills as a winemaker when he took on the responsibilities of his family estate. He also worked for the prestigious vineyards of Jane Ventura in Penedes whilst continuing his studies. During this time, he produced only a very small quantity of wine, only moving on to the current Sicus project after years of preparation.
Much of the winemaking is conducted using porous clay jars, which allow micro-oxidation of the wine and avoid flavours being picked up from barrels. But Sicus also uses amphoras, positioned right there on the vineyard, to keep most of the vinification process in the terroir. The taste of the wine differs depending on how it is made, in the cellar or on location.
The Place
Catalunya, Spain
The vines are all grown in the mountain range of Massís of Bonastre surrounding the small town of Bonastre. The lowest part of the valley stands at 170 metres above sea level. The mountains are located between the great plains of Alt Camp and Baix Penedès, and their vineyards are swept by the fresh air from both the mountains and the nearby Mediterranean Sea, which is just 6 kilometres away. Penedes is mostly known for its Cava, making Sicus a rare treat. Bonastre is a small village with a population of just several hundred, and Sicus is one of three producers here.
The vines are planted in shallow soil that is low in both moisture and organic matter. This gives the grapes an intensity of flavour and the plants themselves strength, as the roots reach out in search of water. The grape varieties employed are Xarel-lo, Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Sumoi and Malvasia de Sitges, all of which are native to the mountains and have spent years adapting to the terroir.
Sicus Location
