No wine snobs here, just enthusiastic drinkers of all wines
Running along the Rio Duero South West of Valladolid in Castilla Leon, the Rueda D.O was formed in 1980. Prior to the 70s this region had very few grapevines. They primarily grew the Palomino grape variety but much of the vines had been killed off by the phylloxera bug earlier in the century. Then the … Continue reading Some History on the Rueda Region
This is the first wine from the Madrid & Darracott Lockdown Virtual Tastings. It is a classic Verdejo white wine from the Rueda D.O. Rueda white wines are served in just about every bar in Madrid and around most of Spain. Ask for a glass of white without specifying, and you will probably get a … Continue reading Rey Santo Verdejo 2019
Named after the winery's former president, this is one of Bodega Cuatro Rayas' most select wines. It was a surprise addition to the tasting at vinopremier.com. 100% Verdejo. It is made from the best grapes from Cuatro Rayas' oldest vines (over 100 years of age) and spends 8 months maturing in french oak. It should … Continue reading Amador Diez Cuvee 2017
In the 1980s the Spanish wine industry went through a revolution in modernising wine making techniques, introducing quality standards and perfecting which grapes grow best in their soil. Rueda is one of the most successful examples of this revolution. Prior to this time many Bodegas in the Rueda region acted as co operatives. Local farmers … Continue reading Dorado 61
The third wine from the Cuatro Rayas wine tasting at vinopremier.com. Something a little different this time, a red Tempranillo wine from the Rueda DO. I say different because Rueda is known for its white wines with Tempranillo reds more usually made in nearby Ribera del Duero. In fact it is so normal for most … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Ecológico 2018
The second white wine from the Bodega Cuatro Rayas tasting at Vinopremier.com. Another Rueda Verdejo Wine but this time with grapes harvested from vines over 100 years old and left on the lees for about 5 months. It is made using more traditional methods and only a limited number of bottles are produced. Like the … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Viñedos Centenarios 2018
Last month Cuatro Rayas Bodega paid a visit to Vinopremier.com to let us sample their range of wines. Reading their website Cuatro Rayas is a large winery using modern wine making methods designed for bulk. It produces some 20% of all wines from the Rueda region, about 15 million bottles annually, and exports much of … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Verdejo 2018
The final offering from the Bodega Diez Siglos one tasting at Vinopremier.com. This is not so much a wine as a Mosto. Basically in between a wine and grape juice. It has only 5.5% alcohol, is sweet and has a natural fizz to it. The fermentation process is cut short so that not all the … Continue reading Canto 5 Blanco
Each year the Bodega Diez Siglos takes a portion of the Verdejo grapes grown and experiments with them. Fermenting and ageing in different ways to see the effects. The Momento Verdejo 2017 was one of these experiments which produced a wine they just had to bring to market. It is a limited edition production made … Continue reading Diez Siglos Momento Verdejo 2017
The second white wine from the Bodega Diez Siglos Wine Tasting at vinopremier.com this time made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Aside from the change in grape variety it is otherwise made exactly the same as the Verdejo 2018. The grapes are grown in the same area (i.e. soil and climate), harvested the same way, fermented … Continue reading Diez Siglos Sauvignon Blanc 2018
