It is the end of October and winemakers in northern Spain are busy finishing the 2013 harvest. Fortunately Spaswinefood was able to witness some of this year's harvest, as part of a Digital Wine Communications Conference (#DWCC) press trip to northern Spain. The Araex Press Trip to northern Spain's wine regions was the perfect opportunity for wine bloggers, such as myself to see first hand the ending of this year's harvest. This year the harvest is 2-3 weeks later than normal. When we dropped by Bodegas Val de Vid in D.O. Rueda winemaker, Silvia Garcia took time to talk to us about this year's harvest. She also introduced us to Bodegas Val de Vid wines.
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Winemaker, Silvia Garcia, Bodegas Val de Vid © Spaswinefood
Winemaker, Silvia Garcia, Bodegas Val de Vid © Spaswinefood
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| Winemaker, Silvia Garcia, Bodegas Val de Vid © Spaswinefood |
Rueda Denominación de Origen (DO) is one of the white wine regions of Spain. 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. This makes getting to see D.O. Rueda an amazing wine adventure.
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| A view of Serrada, Valladolid from Bodegas Val de Vid © Spaswinefood |
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| A Bodegas Val de Vid Vineyard at the end of October © Spaswinefood |
Rueda is an ancient wine region that was re-born in mid 1970's. Major credit for this happening goes the Rioja winery, De Marqués De Riscal. Riscal well known for its red wines was looking for a wine region where they could produce a white wine. Riscal settled on Rueda and the verdejo grape. This proved to be a success for Riscal and other wineries followed. Today D.O. Rueda has become well known for the primary white wine variety Verdejo, with other authorized whites being Viura and Sauvignon Blanc. The authorized red wine varieties are Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Garnacha. The region was granted D.O. status in 1980, with rosé and reds added in 2008. There are many wine styles produced, with each wine style getting its own back label.
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| Bodegas Val de Vid, Serrada, Valladolid © Spaswinefood |
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| Bodegas Val de Vid © Spaswinefood |
Tasting Verdejo Wines at Bodegas Val de Vid
While at Bodegas Val de Vid (D.O. Rueda) in Serrada, Valladolid we tasted four Verdejo wines. The wines were:
1. Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda Blend (80% Verdejo 20% Viura). The Verdejo grapes used in making this wine comes from 23 year-old vineyards and Viura grapes from 50+year-old vineyards.
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| Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
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| Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
The next three wines we tasted were made with 100% Verdejo. We began with Condesa Eylo, which is produced from estate grapes grown on 23 year-old vines.
2. Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda, Condesa Eylo (100% Verdejo)
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| Val de Vid Condesa Eylo 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
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| Val de Vid Condesa Eylo 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
3. Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda (100% Verdejo)
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| Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
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| Val de Vid 2012, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
4. Val de Vid 2011, D.O. Rueda (100% Verdejo)
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| Val de Vid 2011, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
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| Val de Vid 2011, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
The Val de Vid 2011, D.O. Rueda (100% Verdejo) is produced in a Crianza style, with 6 months of aging in oak barrels. The grapes used in wine come from 23 year-old vineyards.
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| Val de Vid 2011, D.O. Rueda © Spaswinefood |
Spaswinefood was very thankful to have experienced this wine tasting lead by winemaker, Silvia Garcia. After visiting Bodegas Val de Vid I can see why the verdejo grape variety was chosen for the D.O. Rueda wine region. It was the elegance of the 100% Verdejo wines from Bodegas Val de Vid that convinced me. Wine lovers who have yet to discover Verdejo wines from D.O. Rueda are certainly missing out on some great white wines.
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| Winemaker, Silvia Garcia introducing Bodegas Val de Vid wines © Spaswinefood |
In addition to the press trip Spaswinefood has been most fortunate this year to have tasted D.O. Rueda wines at #WBC13 In Penticton, British Columbia. However, nothing substitutes for being able to taste and experience the wines at the source. Check out my travels in Spain, such as discovering Málaga wines in Mijas. No visit to Spain is complete without check out its wine regions. I invite you to join me in my travels in Spain and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
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