Collection: Cota 45

Cota 45 is the life's work of Ramiro Ibañez, one of the most talented and reputed winemakers of the Jerez region. His aim: restore traditions and allow terroir to express itself to the fullest. Ramiro was born and bred in the region, graduated in oenology and travelled around the world. He came back in 2009, worked as a consultant for various sherry bodegas, and founded Cota 45 in 2012. This tiny little bodega is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is a real laboratory, where he researches and tests all the potential of Albariza. His project is named after the 45 metre minimum altitude where Ramiro believes the best chalky soils are to be found. 

In order to properly understand Ramiro's work, you need to go back to the nineteenth century, the 'Golden Age' of fortified wine. Sherry was hugely popular at the time, with a big increase around 1870, when enormous quantities were exported. Unfortunately, the majority of this export was sweet, low quality and not appreciated by the local population. There were more than 100 different grape varieties still around at the beginning of the 1800s, but were all replaced by Palomino Fino (because of its potential for making fortified wines) and Pedro Ximénez. Ramiro has committed to a plan to revive those 'extinct sorts'. Together with six like-minded winemakers he drew up Manifesto 119, named after the 119 varieties documented in the nineteenth century. With the aim of putting them back on the map and making wine from then.

Ibañez also wants people to know that amazing non-fortified wines can be made from Palomino too. Palomino is a grape known for its neutral character, while at the same time being able to convey the unique characters of the different pagos in characteristic wines. He is focused on three pagos from Sanlúcar for this: Carrascal, Miraflores and Maina. He ferments his wines in old Manzanilla barrels (up to 150 years old), to limit their fruitiness. The Albarizas from these three pagos are all distinct from one another and the wines made from them are the perfect translation of their origins.

© Photo Ramiro Ibanez: www.josepastorselections.com