As its name suggests, "Cénit" signifies the pinnacle, the highest point of a process or journey. This essence is captured in every wine crafted by José Manuel Benéitez, a forestry engineer who, after a life-changing decision, chose to pursue his true passion: wine. In 2011, José Manuel left his career behind and returned to university to study oenology in La Rioja. This marked the beginning of a journey that led him to work in prestigious wineries in Toro, California, Australia, and Portugal. However, his destiny found him in the Tierra del Vino de Zamora, where, with humility and dedication, he joined the Viñas del Cénit project. Today, in addition to being the technical director of this winery, he also spearheads a small yet promising personal venture in the unique Arribes del Duero.
José Manuel's work is profoundly influenced by a value he deems essential: honesty. For him, a good wine is not merely the result of flawless technical execution but the genuine expression of the terroir from which it originates. Therefore, every wine from Cénit is crafted with the utmost respect for the land and its heritage.
One of the treasures that emerges from this philosophy is Cénit GDLL Viñas Viejas. This wine is born from a century-old vineyard of the godello variety, located in a remote setting between Salamanca and Zamora, at an altitude of 900-950 metres. Here, the vines, averaging 80 years in age, yield a robust wine with character and remarkable depth.
In the winery, following the manual harvest, the grapes remain with skins and stems for 15 days. The spontaneous fermentation results in a wine that, after aging in well-used French oak barrels and clay amphorae, rests for 8 months to attain its complexity and balance.
Cénit GDLL Viñas Viejas is the culmination of years of labour, respect for the land, and the dedication of an individual who firmly believes in authenticity. A wine that embodies the very essence of reaching the zenith, the ultimate achievement, the true heart of viticulture.