Saline, Luminous & Maritime – An Artisan Manzanilla from Sanlúcar
Bodegas del Rio Solera Playa Azul is a beautifully expressive fortified wine from the coastal vineyards of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, crafted from Palomino grown in the Pago Miraflores Baja, specifically Viña Casilla Verde.
Produced just metres from the Atlantic, in a former net storage house (cuarto de redes) in the Bonanza area, this Manzanilla captures the essence of its maritime surroundings - fresh, saline, and full of coastal character.
Winemaking
This Manzanilla is produced using a traditional dynamic criaderas y soleras system, undergoing an average of 4 years of biological ageing under velo de flor.
Following this, the wine spends an additional year in static ageing, further refining its structure and depth.
The ageing takes place in a unique coastal bodega - once a fisherman’s net store in Bonanza - where proximity to the sea enhances the development of flor and intensifies the wine’s saline, maritime profile.
Bottled en rama (minimally filtered), the wine retains its raw, authentic character, offering a direct expression of both vineyard and ageing environment.
Tasting Notes
Aromas: Pronounced notes of flor, sea breeze, chamomile, and fresh dough, with subtle hints of almond.
Palate: Dry, fresh, and vertical, with sharp salinity, light body, and a persistent, savoury finish. Crisp acidity carries citrus and saline notes through to a clean, lingering end.
Appearance: Pale straw yellow, bright and luminous.
Food Pairing Suggestions
Serve well chilled at 8–10ºC. Perfect with seafood, anchovies, olives, fried fish, and tapas. Also pairs exceptionally with oysters and other briny dishes.
Why We Love It
- Sourced from Pago Miraflores Baja, one of Sanlúcar’s finest sites
- Aged under flor in a coastal bodega, enhancing salinity and freshness
- Bottled en rama for purity and authenticity
- Combines dynamic and static ageing for added complexity
- Vibrant, maritime, and unmistakably Manzanilla in style
