
RUFETE GRAPE VARIETY
PHINCA DURMIENTE
Terroir Collection
In the remote Sierra de Francia, David’s journey of discovery extended beyond the red Rufete grape to an even rarer treasure: Rufete Blanco. This white variety had long been overlooked and teetered on the edge of obscurity. Inspired by its untapped potential, David envisioned crafting the first 100% Rufete Blanco wine, determined to wake this sleeping beauty from its slumber.
To bring this vision to life, he partnered with a local vine grower, working together to regraft old Tempranillo vines with Rufete Blanco. The result is Durmiente, meaning “sleeping beauty,” a name that reflects the grape’s revival and the effort to share its delicate character with the world.
Durmiente captures the essence of Sierra de Francia’s unique terroir and David’s commitment to championing forgotten varieties. It stands as a testament to the power of dedication, collaboration, and the magic of waking something extraordinary that was once lost.
THE NAME
From the start, the name “El Cuento” inspired the concept of a trilogy, a “Fairy Tale” series featuring two reds from different soils (granite and slate) named “Pied Piper” and “The Emperor’s New Suit”, and a white named “Sleeping Beauty”.
Each name holds deep significance, reflecting the narrative and magic we aim to capture in each bottle.