Lecture with Vicky Torres and Michel Riouspeyrous
To celebrate the arrival of spring, we are launching a Vinestra – a wine talk – at our workshop, featuring two very special guests: Vicky Torres, from the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, and Michel Riouspeyrous, from Domaine Arretxea in Irouléguy, in the French Basque Country.
The Vinestra will be a small Symposium, for those who remember the Symposium do Véu we held in 2022 at Encosta da Quinta, in a format that allows us to delve deeper into knowledge and sharing.
Both Vicky and Michel work on volcanic soils — but not exclusively. What they have in common is that they come from micro-regions with very distinctive characteristics, where they are pioneers of chemical-free, artisanal viticulture that respects their respective terroirs. They are also renowned for experimenting with new approaches, both in viticulture and winemaking.
Their wines reflect the unique character of this work, which many of you have already had the chance to taste — but which you will now be able to get to know and understand better.
From biodynamic agriculture to the revitalisation of difficult and isolated terroirs, from islands to mountains, we have plenty to talk about.
Vicky and Michel’s talks will be delivered in Spanish and French, respectively, with Portuguese translation provided.
Program
10:30am Welcome with coffee
11am 1st speech
1:30am – 3pm A nibble of lunch, accompanied by volcanic wines
3:30pm 2nd speech
6pm Island tasting (each producer will have their own table and will serve their wines whilst chatting with the public)
8pm Closure
Pricing
40€ per participant (a nibble of lunch included)
10€ participation only at the Island tasting
The producers’ wines will be available at a 10% discount during the Vinestra week.
Registration
Places will be limited.
You can register now by email: golias.goliardos@gmail.com
We’ll be sharing more details about Vinestra soon, so stay tuned!
Arretxea (Irouleguy, French Basque Country)
It is in the Basque Country, between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic, that the Riouspeyrous family at Domaine Arretxea pioneered the revival of the Irouleguy micro-vineyard with typical Basque determination, setting an example through natural viticulture in an area where cultivation is challenging due to the oceanic humidity (2,000 mm of rainfall per year), with demanding grape varieties such as Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds, and Petit and Gros Manseng for whites. Following in the footsteps of their parents, Thérèse and Michel, it is now the two brothers, Iban and Teo, who are keeping the family tradition alive, introducing innovations such as grafting young shoots onto rootstocks, experiments with a red wine called Dolia, continuing the Hexoguri white range and two reds, Tradition and Haitza, with the opportunity to taste aged wines in a region where patience is rewarded.
Victoria Torres (Canarias, La Palma)
This Canarinha, with its Andean characteristics, reveals to us that the Canary Islands are a land set apart on the wine map, a crossroads between Africa—the geographically closest continent—Europe and America. Victoria possesses a special sensitivity and a rare determination, essential for pursuing her volcanic journey of making wine alone and in isolation on the westernmost island of the archipelago. Eager to exchange ideas and learn from others, she continues her father’s work with a personal approach, seeking to reveal the different terroirs of her island, from the southernmost areas of black volcanic soil to the iron-rich red schist terraces in the north-west. Old vines, all ungrafted, with a diversity of indigenous grape varieties such as Diego, Albillo Criollo, Listan Blanco and Listan Prieto – as is characteristic of the Canary Islands – to produce whites, reds and naturally sweet wine made from Malvasia. Exciting wines, just as exciting as getting to know Vicky and her land better. The memory of her father is so present in her reflections and practices that the wine that emerges from her hands is a fusion of two people intimately connected.