spain

Spain

Spain has the most land planted to vines in the world but is only the third largest producer because of its arid climate and a ban on irrigation. Claiming over 600 different grape varieties (although 20 varieties are planted in 80% of Spain’s vineyards) and its tremendous regional diversity make it one of the most exciting wine producing countries.

For a variety of historical reasons, modern production methods were slow to reach Spain and its potential to produce world class wines was not really realized until the 1960’s. Investment grew rapidly in the 1980’s, and now it is one of the world’s largest producers of sparkling wines and produces some of the most valued red wines in the market. The reds produced in the Ribera Del Duero (home of the legendary Vega Sicilia) and from the Rioja are particularly noteworthy.

This region that spans the Duero River (The Douro River in Portugal) is not the most welcoming of areas to grow grapes with its short growing season and huge temperature changes. Although Vega Sicilia was established in this region centuries ago, it remained isolated surrounded by fields of sugar beets for a very long time. It took the arrival of Pesquera in the 1980’s to put this region on the map and to start challenging Rioja for the title of Spain’s preeminent wine region. Now there are many additional growers planting the Tinto Fino grape (a local variant of Rioja’s Tempranillo), who are producing high quality red wines that rival the established wine makers from Pesquera and Vega Sicilia.

  • Producers

This region remains Spain’s leading wine region. It enjoys more favorable growing conditions than most of the rest of Spain and produces some of it most highly regarded reds. The region’s prominence as a wine producer began in the 1800’s when many Bordeaux wine merchants crossed the border to escape the calamity of first, powdery mildew, and later, the Phylloxera louse. Rioja subsequently fell into decay with recovery taking place in the 1970’s. The very distinctive soft vanilla flavors of its red wines comes from barrel maturation using a type of barrel introduced in the mid 19th century and strict rules govern the amount of time the wine rests in the barrel.

  • Producers

Located just southwest of the Ribera del Duero in the Castilla y León region is Rueda. Wine has been produced here since the 11th century, mostly sherry-like wines from the white Verdejo grape. Modern vintners are emphasizing fresh and fruity wines from the Verdejo grape, and combining their best with Savignon Blanc using very modern techniques and machinery. This makes for some fine shellfish wine. While visiting the wineries of Rueda, you can stay in Valladolid, to the north, or in one of my favorite towns, Segovia to the southeast. Another alternative is Salamanca to the west, from which you can easily visit Portugal's Douro region as well.

  • Producers
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Bodegas Arzuaga

Located in the Village of Quintanilla de Onesimo, Bodegas Arzuaga’s vineyards lie between 730 and 900 meters in altitude. The estate, known as “La Planta” boasts a total of 1770 hectares, 370 of which are dedicated to the vine, planted on Agrilo-calcaire and limestone soils, adjacent to vineyards planted by Vega Sicilia in the 1980’s. Winemaker Jorge Monzon has a knack for crafting wines with rich flavors, gentle texture and finesse that defines the style of Arzuaga. Jorge knows how to get the most out of the estate-grown wines, having worked at the cellars of Domaine de la Romanee Conti and Vega Sicilia.It is important to note that the 1400 hectares the Azuaga family does not produce grapes, but is a reserve for naturewith over 800 wild boar, and 200 deer which live safely on their La Planta estate. Their love of nature is symbolized by the deer on their label, along with a depiction of the beautiful hotel and winery the family operates in Quntanilla de Onesimo.They produce a Crianza from these estates and have recently produced another wine called Pago Florentino with fruit from La Mancha. This new value-oriented wine has received numerous accolades and has taken the US by storm! BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY
For some winery information, plus tasting notes in spanish, please see: www.arzuaganavarro.com
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Cillar de Silos

Cillar d’ Silos has arrived big-time! Now finding homes on the best wine lists in Spain, these wines have received rave reviews in the Spanish press. They are one of the few estate grown, estate bottled producers in Ribera del Duero. Owned by brothers Roberto and Oscar Aragon, they farm 48 hectares of old vines, which are hand-harvested. The Cillar d’ Silos Crianza is fermented in French oak and their used barrels are passed on to the El Quintanal. The Torresilos, only made in exceptional vintages is sourced from the oldest vineyards and aged in 100% new French oak. This wine is an amazing combination of power and finesse as there exists in Ribera. SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON & OREGON

For winery& vineyard information, plus tasting & technical notes, please see: www.cillardesilos.es
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Bodegas Leda

Bodegas Leda is a project co-owned by Jesus Soto and Mariano Garcia (former winemaker of Vega Sicilia). Jesus is a top distributor of Wines in Spain, and a restaurateur who co-owns Milvinos with Roberto Aragon of Cilar do Silos. The Grupo is an interesting sub-culture that seems to be the up-and-coming stars of Spanish Gastronomy. To winemaker Cesar Munoz, the most important thing is the grapes and vineyards in which they are grown. He works with only 100% old vine Tempranillo grown in good soils with good exposure. Leda is produced from 16 small plots of land around Castilla y Leon (mostly Ribera del Duero). The grapes are hand-harvested in small boxes, hand-sorted and vinified in the small gravity winemaking facility in Valladolid. Leda is aged in 100% French oak, half of which is new, the other half is second pass. Leda is recognized as one of the top wines of Spain in that country. Here in the U.S., it has an underground following that is growing with each vintage. There is a lot to look for in this great boutique producer. SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY

This producer does not have a website
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Bodegas Ramiros

Bodegas Ramiro is a partnership between Jesus Ramiro, and Eduardo Garcia- son of the famous Mariano Garcia, winemaker of Vega Sicilia for 30+ years. Jesus is a top chef of the Castilla y Leon region, and Eduardo is a gifted young winemaker who crafts some of the best wines in Spain. The philosophy here is that by working outside the D.O., they are able to source some of the best old-vine fruit grown in Toro and Ribera del Duero, as a result, they bottle wine under the classification Castilla y Leon. They source small vineyards 70 years of age or more, hand-harvest, and employ gravity winemaking. The wine spends 30 months in 100% New French Oak. There are miniscule quantities of Ramiro’s available in the marketplace, as total production reaches only five barrels! Another wine, called Condita, made similarly to Ramiro’s Condita is approximately twice the production around 4000 bottles. The winery sits adjacent to the test kitchen and culinary school utilized by some of the best chefs in Spain. Ramiro’s Condita is truly an artisanal product! SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON & OREGON

This producer does not have a website.
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Cesar Principe

Located Northwest of Ribera del Duero, Cigales is most famous for dry rose, but high quality red wine is made here, as well. The benchmark producer of Cigales is arguably Cesar Principe. The estate farms 40 hectares of untrained Tempranillo vines grown on a “carpet of stones” (much like in Chateauneuf-du-Pape). The stones here (a bit smaller than in Chateaunuef) store heat from the sun and radiate it back up into the vines well after sunset- further ripening the grapes. Cesar Principe only uses the oldest vines (some 80 years). The wines see French and American oak. Winemaking philosophy here is simple: They aim to produce small quantities of the very best Tempranillo in Cigales. They craft the most natural wine possible with minimal process. In fact, only one out of six vintages receives sulfur or chemicals. Cesar Munoz, the winemaker is highly regarded for his knowledge of the D.O.s of Castilla y Leon, he also makes wines for such acclaimed properties as Leda, and Bienvenida Toro. SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY

This producer does not have a website.
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Vina Izadi

The Anton family, which also runs a famous Ribera del Duero property (Finca Villacreces), as well as a one-star Michelin restaurant (Zaldiaran) operates Izadi,a fantastic winery in Rioja Alavesa. Mariano Garcia of Vega Sicilia fame helped transform this property into one of the major players in Rioja Alavesa. Hundreds of small plots are dry-farmed and harvested by hand. Angel Ortega, the winemaker is as meticulous as they come, choosing his grapes and barrels carefully, he has developed and interesting range of wines.The Crianza is somewhere between traditional and modern styles. 100% Tempranillo is aged in American and French oak barrels. The rest of his wines are more cutting edge and modern without being heavy or over the top. The Izadi “Selection” ismade of the very best grapes from a variety of plots at least 50 years old. The Selection is 80% old vine Tempranillo and 20% old vine Graciano. The Izadi Expression is an expression of the top two performing oldest vineyards (70+ years) in a given year. Izadi also produces a wine from Toro called Vetus. These wines are highly allocated and typically pre-sells out before arrival in the US! SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY

For winery & some vineyard information, plus tasting notes & accolades, please see: www.grupoartevino.com
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Quinta Apolonia

Rueda

From the Rueda region, Belondrade Y Lurton is a stunning and unique white wine made by the husband and wife team of Didier Belondrade and Brigitte Lurton. Brigitte’s family owns several Bordeaux Chateaux, including Brane-Cantenac and Chateau Climens. It is the dry whites of Pessac-Leognan that was the inspiration for Belondrade Y Lurton. Quinta Apolonia is the second label and is made with 100% Verdejo which is 70% fermented in stainless steel and 30% for 10 mos in French oak. The resulting wine is complex and flavorful, with intense concentration and excellent extract. Barrel fermentation gives the wine a spicy, honeyed characteristic that pairs well with the fresh qualities of the Verdejo grape. You will not want to miss this exceptional white wine.
SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY
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