Prieto Picuda Blanca

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

The Prieto Picudo Blanca is an extremely rare and virtually unknown variety, a direct descendant of the Prieto Picudo genetic group, traditionally linked to León and the central-northern regions of Spain. Unlike its red relative, this white mutation has survived in only a handful of isolated vines, remaining unnoticed for decades in the oldest vineyards of Castile.

Prieto Picudo Blanca is one of those grapes that almost disappeared without making a sound.

At Javier Sanz Viticultor, it caught our attention precisely for that reason: because it is a nearly extinct variety, with its own personality and very interesting winemaking potential. Today we work with it in small plots in La Seca, where we are studying it and vinifying it experimentally to understand everything it can offer.

Prieto Picudo Blanca is a rare, minority grape, and very little known. In fact, for years only a few traces of its existence remained in old vineyards. Recovering it requires patient work: locating vines, grafting, observing its behavior, and producing microvinifications vintage after vintage.

Our goal is not only to save it from oblivion, but also to determine whether it can become a variety with a future: capable of producing quality wines, with its own identity, and adapted to the current climatic context.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRIETO PICUDO BLANCA GRAPE At first glance, it strongly resembles Verdejo from La Seca: medium-sized clusters, light-skinned berries, and a very similar appearance in leaves and shoots. The differences emerge as the cycle progresses: Prieto Picudo Blanca is slightly later ripening and shows a more trailing growth habit, which helps it protect itself better from the sun and high temperatures.

This slower and more prolonged ripening allows it to:

• Retain its natural acidity well.

• Reach full aromatic ripeness.

• Produce flavorful, aromatic wines with good mouthfeel.

For all these reasons, Prieto Picudo Blanca is shaping up to be a very interesting tool for producing balanced wines in a context of climate change.

WHAT DOES A PRIETO PICUDO BLANCA WINE TASTE LIKE?

Although we are still in the testing phase, its wines are beginning to show a fairly defined style:

• On the nose, white fruits (pear, apple), stone fruit (peach, apricot), and citrus notes appear, along with light herbal and floral hints.

• On the palate it is flavorful and aromatic, with good texture, well-defined acidity, and a long, refreshing finish.