5 Minutes with… Our Interview with Dido and Jurriaan from Vinyes Tortuga

Dido and Jurriaan are Dutch newcomers to the wine world. We are fascinated by their craft, the beautiful wines from both of their wineries, and their relaxed attitude towards the often stressful everyday life of a winemaker. Now we were lucky enough to talk to the two for 5 minutes and learn all the most important information, their motivations, and even more!

8gb: Hello, Dido and Jurriaan! It’s so wonderful to have you as the first Spanish winery (or rather, two wineries) in our selection. But now we’d really like to get to know you better. What sets Vinyes Tortuga’s wines apart ?

Dido and Jurriaan: "Neither of us has a winemaking background, and with this winery we have been able to realize our dreams. Maybe we can show everyone that it's possible to leave city life behind, learn how to make wine from people you admire, and then start doing it yourself."

"Our wines come from slate soils, so they have a nice acidity, even when harvested overripe. We tend to harvest relatively early, so our wines are naturally high in acidity and low in pH, which is rather unusual in the Empordà region of Spain."

8gb: What foods do you like to pair with your wines? Any favorite dishes from your restaurant?

Dido and Jurriaan: “We like to drink without food, haha. We’ll leave that to the sommeliers! But we’ve found that Libertango pairs very well with all kinds of fish. And Magnolias goesperfectly with a plate of Bellota ham.”

8gb: This can only be delicious!

Addicted to natural wine

8gb: Was it always natural for you to produce natural wine, or how did it come about?

Dido & Jurriaan: "In the beginning we learned from low intervention producers who added very little sulfites, until we came to Joan Ramon Escoda in 2016. We were almost immediately addicted to his style of winemaking and have never looked back since. We learned that you don't have to add (or take away) anything in the cellar if the soil is healthy and the grapes are happy. You're just the guide, making sure the grape juice gets through fermentation well."

8gb: What is one of the biggest life lessons you've had the opportunity to learn since making your own wines?

Dido and Jurriaan: "You reap what you sow. After five years of biodynamic preparations and a lot of love for the vineyard, we see that fermentation goes more smoothly because there are more nutrients in the soil."

8gb: So nature thanks you for your hard work. Are there any role models in the region or abroad that have particularly inspired you?

Dido and Jurriaan: "The two biggest ones are definitely Tom Lubbe of Matassa and Joan Ramon Escoda."

8gb: What is the most beautiful thing for you in the whole winemaking process?

Dido: "I personally love pruning. It is a moment in the vineyard when you can calmly decide on the future of the vineyard for the next few years. We both enjoy the harvest with its intensity and full concentration. It's great to 'cook' with grapes that you've taken care of for a whole year."

A cold beer after a hard days' work

8gb: How do you relax after a long day in the vineyard or cellar?

Dido and Jurriaan: "We drink a cold beer together and enjoy the view, together with our dogs, cats and our child Uma."

8gb: What can we expect from you in the future?

Dido and Jurriaan: "We will continue to plant vineyards and experiment with new cuvées. So far, all the wines have gotten better and better every year."

The 4 favorite wines of Dido and Jurriaan

Thank you, Dido and Jurriaan, for taking the time to give us such great insights into your work! We are definitely excited about what's to come.

Did you enjoy our interview with the two of them? If you would like to learn more about our winemakers, you can find an overview of the 8gb winemaker family here!