After a fabulous introduction to Rioja at Digital Wine Communications Conference (#DWCC) we were off on a press trip to northern Spain sponsored by Araex. The trip was a tour through the wine regions of Rueda, Ribera del Deuro, Navarra and Rioja at the end of harvest. Our winery stops through these wine regions included Bodegas Val de Vid (D.O. Rueda), Bodegas Valtravieso (D.O. Ribera del Duero), Pago de Cirsus (D.O. Navarra) and Bodegas y Viñedos Labastida (D.O.C. Rioja). While these wineries are located in four different wine regions they share something in common. The wineries are part of the Araex Group of independent wineries that produce fine Spanish wines. This blog post will provide a vignette of each winery visited, with a brief overview of its wine region.
Vignette #1: Tasting Verdejo Wines at Bodegas Val de Vid (D.O. Rueda)
Check out these details on our visit to Bodegas Val de Vid.
D.O. Rueda
Bodegas Val de Vid wines were a great introduction to Rueda Denominación de Origen (DO), one of Spain's best known white wine regions. The D.O. is northwest of Madrid, centered around Rueda, with the Duero River flowing east to west across the flat high plains. In fact some have described D.O. Rueda as the leading white wine of Spain.
Vignette #2: Harvest Time at Bodegas Valtravieso (D.O. Ribera del Duero)
During our visit to Bodegas Valtravieso we were able see the harvest in its last day. When we arrived at the winery the owner met our group. He took us first to observed the harvest. Later, we toured the winery and sampled some of Bodegas Valtravieso wines.
Prior to arriving at the winery we had a fabulous lunch at Fuente De La Aceña where we also tasted some of Bodegas Valtravieso wines.
During lunch one of the wines we had was a Valtravieso Crianza, D.O. Ribera del Duero 2009.
Later during our wine tasting two of the wines we had were (1) Valtravieso Crianza, D.O. Ribera del Duero 2011 and (2) Michel Rolland/Javier Galarret Tempranillo Merlot, Ribera del Duero 2010.
Two things stand out from our Bodegas Valtravieso visit were (1) the awesome wines we tasted and (2) the harvest visit.
D.O. Ribera del Duero
D.O. Ribera del Duero is located on the northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, along the sides of the Duero River. The wine region occupies the southern plains of Burgos province, extends west to Valladolid and into parts of Segovia and Soris provinces. The region is known for its red wines. Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The only white wine produced, mostly for local consumption, is Albillo. This region was listed as top wine region in 2012 by Wine Enthusiasts.
Vignette #3: Elegant Accommodations, Fine Dining and Pago de Cirsus Wines
Pago de Cirsus (D.O. Navarra) is the place for pampering. We were fortunate to spend the night at Pago de Cirsus Hotel, a luxury hotel. We also dined at the restaurant, toured the winery and tasted wines with the winemaker.
The restaurant not only offers excellent dining but you can view the winery's barrel room while dining.
We were treated to a special tasting lead by the winemaker.
During the tasting we tasted four of Pago de Cirsus wines (two whites, a rosé and a red).
D.O. Navarra
This wine region covers the southern half of Navarra. The vineyards extend from the Ebro River to the Pyrenees lower slopes. D.O. Navarra use to be known for its Rosado wines but this wine region has become known for its red and white wines. The authorized reds for this region include Graciano, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Garnacha, Merlot and Mazuelo permitted. The authorized white is Viura, with Chardonnay, Granacha Blanc, Malvasia and Moscatel Grano Mende permitted.
Vignette #4: Bodegas y Viñedos Labastida (D.O.C. Rioja)
Bodegas y Viñedos Labastida is a cooperative effort of 152 vineyard growers that have been producing wines since 1964. While at Bodegas y Viñedos Lasbastida we toured the winery, tasted wines with winemaker, visited the winemaker's lab and dined at Asador Lopez De Aguileta.
Not only did we have a fabulous lunch at Asador Lopez De Aguileta but there were great wines with lunch. One of these wines was a 2005 Manuel Quintano.
A perfect ending to our tour was an awesome lunch with a Labastida 2005 Manuel Quintano wine.
Rioja
The end October 2013 in northern Spain was the perfect opportunity to see first hand the ending of this year's harvest. Fortunately, Spaswinefood was able to witness some of this year's harvest, as part of an Araex Press Trip to northern Spain's wine regions. The viewing of the harvest was possible at this time because it was 2-3 weeks later than normal. I invite you to join me in my travels in Spain and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
Sharon
 |
| 2013 Harvest at Bodegas Valtravieso © Spaswinefood |
The wine tasting at Bodegas Val de Vid was lead by winemaker, Silvia Garcia. After tasting Bodegas Val de Vid wines it is easy to see why the verdejo grape variety was chosen for the D.O. Rueda wine region. The elegance of the Verdejo wines from Bodegas Val de Vid (D.O. Rueda) will certainly convince any wine lover not to miss out on these great white wines.
 |
Winemaker, Silvia Garcia introducing Bodegas Val de Vid wines © Spaswinefood
|
D.O. Rueda
Bodegas Val de Vid wines were a great introduction to Rueda Denominación de Origen (DO), one of Spain's best known white wine regions. The D.O. is northwest of Madrid, centered around Rueda, with the Duero River flowing east to west across the flat high plains. In fact some have described D.O. Rueda as the leading white wine of Spain.
Vignette #2: Harvest Time at Bodegas Valtravieso (D.O. Ribera del Duero)
During our visit to Bodegas Valtravieso we were able see the harvest in its last day. When we arrived at the winery the owner met our group. He took us first to observed the harvest. Later, we toured the winery and sampled some of Bodegas Valtravieso wines.
 |
| Bodegas Valtravieso owner leads wine tasting © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Lunch at Fuente De La Aceña © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Valtravieso Crianza, D.O. Ribera del Duero 2009 © Spaswinefood |
 |
| 2011 Valtravieso Crianza & 2010 Rolland/Galarret Tempranillo Merlot © Spaswinefood |
 |
| 2013 Harvest, Bodegas Valtravieso © Spaswinefood |
 |
| 2013 Harvest at Bodegas Valtravieso © Spaswinefood |
D.O. Ribera del Duero is located on the northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, along the sides of the Duero River. The wine region occupies the southern plains of Burgos province, extends west to Valladolid and into parts of Segovia and Soris provinces. The region is known for its red wines. Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The only white wine produced, mostly for local consumption, is Albillo. This region was listed as top wine region in 2012 by Wine Enthusiasts.
Vignette #3: Elegant Accommodations, Fine Dining and Pago de Cirsus Wines
Pago de Cirsus (D.O. Navarra) is the place for pampering. We were fortunate to spend the night at Pago de Cirsus Hotel, a luxury hotel. We also dined at the restaurant, toured the winery and tasted wines with the winemaker.
 |
| Pago de Cirsus Hotel © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Restaurant at Pago de Cirsus Hotel © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Pago de Cirsus winemaker © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Pago de Cirsus wines © Spaswinefood |
This wine region covers the southern half of Navarra. The vineyards extend from the Ebro River to the Pyrenees lower slopes. D.O. Navarra use to be known for its Rosado wines but this wine region has become known for its red and white wines. The authorized reds for this region include Graciano, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Garnacha, Merlot and Mazuelo permitted. The authorized white is Viura, with Chardonnay, Granacha Blanc, Malvasia and Moscatel Grano Mende permitted.
Vignette #4: Bodegas y Viñedos Labastida (D.O.C. Rioja)
Bodegas y Viñedos Labastida is a cooperative effort of 152 vineyard growers that have been producing wines since 1964. While at Bodegas y Viñedos Lasbastida we toured the winery, tasted wines with winemaker, visited the winemaker's lab and dined at Asador Lopez De Aguileta.
 |
| Bodegas Lasbastida Winery © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Winemaker, Manuel Ruiz Pedreira © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Asador Lopez De Aguileta © Spaswinefood |
 |
| 2005 Manuel Quintano © Spaswinefood |
Rioja
Rioja Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O.C.) is centered around La Rioja but extends into parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava. D.O. status was granted to Rioja in 1970, with the prestigious D.O.C. status approved in 1991. It was the first Spanish wine region to achieve Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status. It is not surprising that Rioja, Spain's top red wine region, is listed as one of top ten places to visit in 2013 by Wine Enthusiasts. The Rioja grape varities used in wines from Rioja D.O.C. include the red grapes varieties - Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciono, Mazuelo and Maturana Tinta; white grapes - Viura, Malvasia, Grancha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. The main red grape is Tempranillo with the main white grape being Viura.
Sharon
October 2013
Rioja, Spain
© Spaswinefood
No comments:
Post a Comment