[Collaboration] Viña Dammis and The Resilient Butterfly

🌿 The Flight of Flavor: A Collaboration with Viña Dammis

There are wineries that produce wine—and then there are those that cultivate stories. Viña Dammis belongs firmly in the second category. Founded by two brothers in La Seca, Valladolid, this family-run winery represents the fourth generation of vintners who have made respect for the land their guiding principle. Their philosophy is rooted in ecological viticulture with minimal intervention, where every cluster of grapes tells a story of care, patience and passion. In this artistic collaboration, I had the privilege of immersing myself in their world through two of their most representative wines: Viña Dammis Verdejo Ecológico Sobre Lías 2024 and Viña Dammis Selección Familiar, a limited edition of just 932 bottles.

🍃 A Tasting Among Friends, Sea and Resilience

The experience began with a family gathering by the coast, joined by some Valencian friends who had been affected by the recent DANA storms. Our intention was to gift them a day filled with joy—a reconnection with the beauty of everyday life. It was a truly lovely day: we started with paella and then hopped onto a small boat. Laughter mixed with motion sickness, as the sea was choppy and my father, who was steering, was feeling rather dizzy. We took two two-hour trips—fun but risky, as the yellow flag signaled caution and the waves were wild. A bit of bad luck with the weather, perhaps, but the gathering was heartfelt and continued on the beach, then by the pool, and finally on the terrace of the rental apartment, where we shared a delightful dinner with tapas while the little ones from both families ran amok, dismantling everything in their path.

To crown this moment, we opened the bottles as if they were treasure chests filled with liquid jewels. What follows are my impressions—personal and entirely subjective, as I’m no wine expert and make no claim to be:

The Viña Dammis Ecológico Sobre Lías, crafted from estate-grown grapes and aged for five months on its lees, welcomed us with a straw-yellow color accented by greenish hues. On the nose, it released intense aromas of stone fruits like apricot and peach, joined by citrus and herbal notes that evoked a freshly watered meadow. On the palate, it was silky and balanced, with a refreshing acidity that mirrored the wind whipping our faces during the voyage. Its persistent finish left a sensation of lightness and fullness—an invitation to take flight. Truthfully, it was incredibly pleasant: we just kept pouring more and more, reluctant to see the day end.

The Viña Dammis Selección Familiar, meanwhile, is a wine for aging, made from 100% Verdejo grapes and matured for seven months in French oak barrels. Its straw-yellow color with golden trim hinted at a more complex experience. On the nose, it enveloped us in ripe fruit, vanilla, pastry, and a smoky touch—evidence of its time in wood. Hints of mango and subtle spices added to the layered bouquet. On the palate, it was velvety and smooth, with a strong personality and perfect harmony between alcohol and acidity. The lingering finish invited us to close our eyes and savor the moment as if it could last forever. We didn’t want to say goodbye—we wished for the day to stretch endlessly. This wine was the perfect finale to an emotional union between Aragonese and Valencian families, the latter showing a resilience that left an unforgettable mark on us all.

In the midst of this atmosphere, the inspiration for my artwork was born.

🎨 The Butterfly That Unites Through Flight

The piece I created for this collaboration was inspired not only by the experience I’ve just shared, but also by Viña Dammis’s emblem: a butterfly emerging from a bunch of grapes. For me, flight is a recurring symbol throughout my life. Many of my dreams involve soaring, and the sensation of freedom, lightness, and internal momentum is precisely what I tried to capture. More than that, this flight isn’t random—it’s the journey the butterfly undertook between Aragón and Valencia, a metaphor for the two families that traveled to meet, joined by Viña Dammis, which symbolically took flight to unite us.

For the artwork, I chose intense reds and fiery oranges, reflecting how these wines ignited a soft yet vibrant flame within. The butterfly’s flight is not chaotic, but elegant and effervescent—just like the texture of the wines. The brushstrokes intertwine like currents of air, and the warm background represents the human warmth we felt during our seaside tasting. The butterfly’s movement in the painting is not literal, but emotional: it speaks of the precise moment when flavor lifts you, transforms you, connects you to something deeper—a memory sealed in a remarkable family vacation.

🍷 Wines to Reconnect with Lifelong Friends

Both wines pair beautifully with fish, shellfish, rice dishes and mild cheeses—and that’s exactly how we enjoyed them. Yet their greatest pairing is not culinary, but emotional. The Verdejo Ecológico is perfect for late sunlit dinners, joyful conversations, nostalgic anecdotes, and laughter shared between youthful spirits, both young and old. The Selección Familiar, with its layered depth and sophistication, asks for a special occasion and beautifully caps a dinner that evolves into a celebration of shared lives. Viña Dammis doesn’t just make wine—it revives experiences, spreads them across the table. With good wine, good food and good company, everything is simply good. That is happiness.

🌅 Final Reflections: When Art and Wine Meet

This collaboration allowed me to explore a new dimension in my work—an interplay of taste, color and the emotion of reconnecting with lifelong friends, and with family who continue to grow and bring new generations into the world. The wine not only inspired me to paint, but led me to reflect on flight as a metaphor for life—something I’ve already said I’m passionate about. Flight isn’t escape—it’s elevation. It’s seeing from a different vantage point, feeling the wind on your skin, and surrendering to what moves you from within.

That majestic butterfly we each carry in our hearts—it’s time to let it rise. It’s time to set it free. Viña Dammis, thank you for giving mine the push it needed to take off.