Hey You Red

Marinus Neleman left the Dutch music industry in the early 2000s to plant certified organic vineyards in Valencia's interior, betting that the region's intense Mediterranean sun and poor soils could produce honest, terroir-driven wine at an accessible price point — a deliberate rejection of the heavily extracted, oak-laden Valencia style that dominated export shelves.

The vineyards sit on limestone-clay soils in the Valencia DO, where hot, dry summers and significant diurnal temperature swings preserve natural acidity in the grapes despite high sugar accumulation. The limestone fraction keeps the wines from feeling heavy, lending a mineral backbone that lifts the fruit.

Vinification is unoaked, prioritizing primary fruit character: fermentation in stainless steel retains the aromatic freshness of the indigenous and Mediterranean varieties in the blend. Certified organic viticulture — no synthetic pesticides or herbicides — is the non-negotiable foundation of the entire Neleman range.

What sets Hey You Red apart in its price tier is the combination of organic certification and genuinely site-specific Valencia character, rather than the pan-Spanish blending approach common at this price. Drink young, within 2–3 years of vintage, to capture the vibrant, unadorned fruit that defines this cuvée.