Delância is not a word that exists in any dictionary. It is a contraction, an invention. Crime y elegance fused into something that was not there before. Inès Deroche and Tom Simpson created it to name their wine.
And also, in a way, to describe her way of doing things. Inès is French. Tom is English. They have been in Portugal for seven years and both feel unreservedly Alentejan.
We met them in Baleizão to talk about wine, landscape and why sometimes the best way to respect something is to change it completely.
Manel: Tell us a bit about who you are, where you come from and how you came up with the idea of creating something as unique as Delancia in Alentejo?
Inès + Tom: We are Inès and Tom, and Delância was born in the Alentejo almost as an act of rebellion. We returned to the family vineyard at a decisive moment: it was about to be uprooted, because it no longer made sense to continue producing as usual.
Instead of letting it disappear, we decided to reinvent everything from scratch. We come from worlds of innovation, creativity and festivals, and we wanted to create something freer, more connected to the way people live (or want to live) and drink. We also wanted to bring a splash of colour to a world that brings so much stress, division and tension. Thus Delância was born, at the intersection of wine, culture and mixology, to reimagine wine from the present.
Manel: Now it is time to explain the processes that can be known about how and what you elaborate.
Inès + Tom: We start with a base wine fermented in the traditional way, respecting the origin and the work in the vineyard, and then we take it to another terroir. We infuse natural botanicals, such as flowers, herbs or tea, looking for more unexpected but elegant aromatic layers.
Then we work with a hybrid method: we make a short Charmat and then adjust the carbonation to maintain a lighter, finer bubble. It's quite a precise process, designed to preserve freshness, balance and that aromatic side that defines Delância.
Manel: Last question. I admit that I was reluctant to try your project, but in the end, at a party, luckily I found a lost bottle and I loved it!!! What would be your idea of market? Total freak, apprentice freak, masked teetotaler or just curious, to start or to end the party?
Inès + Tom: It was clearly born from the love of day drinking, of celebrating everything and nothing, of those long and light moments where you want to enjoy yourself without excesses, without feeling completely drunk.
It's for those who are looking for lighter options, where moderation is part of a modern way of drinking, accompanying the party without implying having a monumental hangover. Hahaha... We love geeks, but we also think of those who have fallen out of love with wine or don't feel represented by its codes, or those who never fell in love because they don't understand them.
It is an invitation to awaken the senses, to explore something new and to get excited about what wine can bring to your life. It works both to start and to extend the party without weighing it down.
On May 22nd you can meet Inès and Tom, and taste their elegant wines at A Casa Portuguesa de Gracia. More details in our social networks!