# Pink Moon (2024)

- **Producer:** Niloufar Wines
- **Colour:** rosé
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Xarel-lo, Ull de Llebre
- **Region:** Catalonia, Spain
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 9.5%
- **Average price:** €19
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–11 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, lemon, orange, herbaceous

## About this wine

Niloufar Wines is founded by Niloufar Sharifi Esfarani, a Dutch winemaker of Iranian heritage who transitioned from sommelier work in Rotterdam to natural winemaking. After traveling across Europe in her van to learn minimal-intervention techniques at respected estates in France, South Africa, and Austria, she established her project in Alt Penedès, Catalonia. She rents organically and biodynamically farmed vineyard parcels located near the Montserrat mountains, producing low-intervention natural wines.

## Interesting facts

- Winemaker Niloufar Esfarani drove across Europe in her van named Bennie to harvest at renowned biodynamic wineries.
- Pink Moon co-ferments white Xarel-lo and red Tempranillo using semi-carbonic maceration.
- The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfites.

## Food pairing

The bright acidity and refreshing nature of this dry natural rosé slice through savory olive oil, garlic, and fresh tomato bases. Its light-to-medium structure complements light proteins, seafood, and fresh goat cheeses without overpowering their flavors.

## Wine making process

Pink Moon is crafted by co-fermenting white Xarel-lo and red Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) grapes harvested manually from calcareous limestone soils. Xarel-lo is picked early, while Ull de Llebre undergoes semi-carbonic maceration with approximately three days of skin contact. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using ambient native yeasts in stainless steel vats. The wine is aged on fine lees without added sulfites, fining agents, or filtration before bottling.