Vera de Estenas and Benito Fernández expand into artisanal winemaking

Vera de Estenas, a winery rooted in the historic Casa Don Ángel in Utiel, Spain, continues its legacy of producing artisanal wines. Founded by Francisco Martínez Bermell in 1982, the project transformed the region by moving away from bulk production to focus on high-quality, estate-grown grapes. The winery utilizes indigenous varieties such as Tardana and Bobal, employing traditional methods like the use of clay jars and old stone tanks to emphasize fruitiness and mineral complexity.

In Argentina, fashion designer Benito Fernández has expanded his business ventures into the viticulture industry with the launch of BF Wines. His first label, ETNIA, is a 2023 Malbec produced in Rivadavia, Mendoza, in collaboration with Finca Altos Las Piedras. The wine's name pays homage to one of Fernández's most significant fashion collections from 2009, aiming to translate his aesthetic identity of color and texture into the wine's branding and profile.