Envinate Benje Blanco 2021

"Benje" traces its etymology to the language of Tenerife's original settlers, predating Spanish colonial arrival by over four centuries. This name once denoted the island's loftiest summit, the volcano Pico Viejo, which stood over 3000 meters tall until an eruption just over a year ago sheared its apex, relegating it to second after the towering Pico Teide at 3700 meters.

Nestled in the shadows of the great volcano, the vineyards for Benje Blanco sprawl amidst the ash and stone left by the 1908 eruption. Perched over a kilometer high, these vines loom above Santiago de Teide in the island's northwest. Here, sheltered from the tempering Alisios winds common to the more easterly Valle de la Orotava and Taganana, the vines bask in the altitude's inherent coolness, enhancing the freshness of their yield. The elevated terroir also positions the vines above the clouds, exposing them to arid conditions that would typically yield wines with more texture, reminiscent of the Albillos from Sierra de Gredos, rather than the sharper tones of the Galician varieties.

However, the innovative winemaking team at Envinate, influenced by their consulting experience with Alvear's sherry production, has embraced flor yeast experimentation, refining their wine's profiles. Since the 2018 vintage, about 60% of Benje Blanco has been shaped by flor, resulting in a more nuanced expression. The outcome is not an overtly sherry-like wine; rather than embodying a volcanic Fino or Manzanilla, it subtly peels back layers of fruit and texture to reveal a core marked by stark minerality, briny notes, and a pronounced acid backbone.