Tag: White Grapes

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D.O. Rueda

Denomination of Origin Rueda

Maybe if you ask to any Spaniard, could you recommend me a good Verdelho from Spain?, he’ll surely recommend you any wine from  the region of Rueda. And maybe this association is because of the wine history that this Region has. There are records on the production of wine in this Region since medieval times in old Spanish records from more than 9 centuries ago.

This Designation of Origen is the first and oldest DO created in “Castilla y Leon”, approved by the Ministry of Agriculture on 12 January 1980. The production zone covered by this DO is made up of 72 towns and villages, 53 of which are located in the south of the province of Valladolid, 17 to the west of Segovia and four north of Ávila.

The Grapes produced under this Designation of Origin (DO) are grown between 700 and 800 meters above sea level, on flat and high ground. Winters are cold and long and springs are short with late frost while summers are hot and dry.

Blanco Nieva DO

It is in the center of the Duero River’s basin and comprises a plateau with smooth relief and slopes exposed to winds from the Atlantic. The soil is grey-brown, rich in calcium and magnesium, easy to till and stony, well ventilated and well drained.

Blanco Nieva DO

The region is famous for the Verdelho production, but is not the only grape that could be found within this DO. The white grapes allowed under this DO are:

  • Verdelho
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Viura
  • Palomino Fino

It is also possible to find red varieties like:

  • Tempranillo
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Grenache

A good candidate to taste what Rueda has to offer is the delicate Blanco Nieva, from the municipality of Nieva at the northwest of the town of Segovia. The location of the vineyards in Nieva belongs to the 12th century, when the commercialisation of the wines started with the peak of Los Cartujos monastery. Viñedos de Nieva is a modern company was founded in 1989 as a project trying to revive the vine-growing tradition that existed in this region since memorial times. After 20 years working step by step, in 2009, Bodegas MARTÚE joined this company to enforce the image of this winery and add their experience to increase even more the quality of this wines.

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Bioca Godello Awards

Bioca is one of the most recognised Godello’s Wines in the world. Since 2006 when the winery decided to start to promote the wine all around the world and participate in different competitions, the results have been stunning.

The consistency in the methodology used to make this wine during all this years, is the key to great results year after year, and a warranty that no matter the vintage, the wine is always going to be the perfect choice.

The 2013’s Vintage has been the most successful vintage of this wine so far. In the ranking of wines published by the “WORLD ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS AND WRITERS OF WINES AND SPIRITS”  Bioca Godello appears as the second best in the world and best white wine in the world 2015. This ranking is made with a selection of wines from over 600,000 participants in major international competitions.

Awards_03
The list of the awards earned by this wine since 2006 is endless:

Vintage 2014:

  • Valladolid, Spain: Cinve, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • New York, USA: Finger Lakes, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • Estoril, Portugal: Winemasters Challenge, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • Lyon, France: Concurso Internacional de Lyon, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • Israel: Terravino, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • Vitoria, Spain: Catavinun, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2014
  • Berlín, Germany: Berliner wine trophy, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2014

Vintage 2013:

  • Argentina: La Mujer Elige, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • Sydney, Australia: Internacional Wine Competición, Top 100 Blue Gold, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • Sydney, Australia: Internacional Wine Competición, Trophy for the best wine in its category, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • Mendoza, Argentina: Vinus 2014, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Berlin, Germany: Berlíner Wein Trophy, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013  →
  • France: Gilbert y Gaillart, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Mendoza, Argentina: Vinus 2014, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Bordeaux, France: Challenge du vin, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • Budapest, Hungary: Vinagora, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • London, England: Decanter, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: Sommeliers Wine Awards, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: International Wine Challenge, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: International Wine and spirits Competition, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2013  →
  • San Francisco (California), USA: Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Valladolid, Spain: CINVE, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain: Catavinum World wine and spirits competition, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • París, France: Internationales Vinalies, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2013 →
  • París, France: Internationales Vinalies, Trophy, Bioca Godello 2013
  • New York, USA: Finger lakes internacional Wine Competition, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013  →
  • Estoril, Portugal: Winemasters Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013  →
  • Madrid, Spain: Unión Española de Catadores, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Madrid, Spain: Vino y Mujer, Honorable Mention, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Verona, Italy: Vinitaly, Great Mention, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Berlin, Germany: Berliner wine trophy , Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Germany: The Selection, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: International Wine Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Lisboa, Portugal: Winemasters challenge , Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: Decanter, Commended, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Mendoza, Argentina: International wine and spirits competition, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • London, England: International wine challenge, Gold and Trophy Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Valladolid, Spain: Premios zarcillo, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • Budapest, Hungary: Vinagora, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013
  • San Francisco, USA: International wine competition, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2013

Vintage 2012

  • Bordeaux, France: Les citadelles du vin , Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2012
  • New York, USA: Asociación mundial de periodistas y escritores de vinos, wine of the year, Bioca Godello 2012

Vintage 2011

  • San Francisco, USA: San Francisco International Wine Competition, Gold medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Santiago de Compostela, Spain: XXIV Cata dos Viños de Galicia, D. O. Valdeorras, Acio de Oro, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Meinz, Germany: Premium Select Wine Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • París, France: Internationales Vinalies, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • New York, USA: Finger Lakes International Wine Competition , Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Estoril, Portugal: Wine Masters Challenge , Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Londres, England: International Wine Challenge, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Londres, England: International Wine and Spirits Competition, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Bourg (Burdeos), France: Les Citadelles du Vin, Gold medal, Bioca Godello 2011
  • Neustadt, Germany: Mundus Vini, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2011

Vintage 2010

  • Meinz, Germany: Forum fur Genieser, 3 Stars, Bioca Godello 2010
  • Estoril, Portugal: Winemasters Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2010
  • Bordeaux, France: Challenge du vin, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2010
  • London, England: International Wine Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2010
  • New York, USA: Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Gold medal, Bioca Godello 2010
  • San Francisco: San Francisco International Wine Competition, Silver Medal,Bioca Godello 2010
  • Mendoza(Argentina): “Vinus” International Wine Competition in Mendoza, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2010
  • Germany: Mundus Vini, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2010

Vintage 2010

  • Paris: Internationales Vinalies 2009, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Bordeaux: Citadelles du Vin, Excellence Trophy, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Bordeaux: Challenge du vin, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Brussels: Brussels World Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Estoril: Wine Master Challenge, Gold medal, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Budapest: Vinagora, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Germany: Forum fur Geniesser, 3 Stars, Bioca Godello 2009
  • Germany: Mundus Vini, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2009

Vintage 2008

  • Madrid: Union Española de Catadores, Bacchus awards, Silver Bacchus, Bioca Godello 2008
  • Bordeaux: Citadelles du Vin, Prestige Trophy, Bioca Godello 2008
  • Slovenia: Ljubljana wine, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2008
  • Paris: Internationales Vinalies 2009, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2008
  • Estoril: Wine Master Challenge, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2008
  • Valladolid: Silver Zarcillo, Bioca Godello 2008- Brussels: Brussels World Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2008
  • London: International Wine Challenge, Recommended wines, Bioca Godello 2008

Vintage 2007

  • Estoril: Wine Master Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2007
  • London: International Wine Challenge, Gold Medal, Bioca Godello 2007
  • France: Challenge International du vin, Bronze Medal, Bioca Godello 2007
  • Bordeaux: Citadelles du vin, Prestige Trophy, Bioca Godello 2007

Vintage 2006:

  • Estoril: Wine Master Challenge, Silver Medal, Bioca Godello 2006- Union Española de catadores, Hundred best wines of Spain, Bioca Godello 2006
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D.O. Valdeorras

Valdeorras: The “Valley of Gold”

Valdeorras is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) (Denominación de Orixe in Galician) for wines located on the banks of the river Sil in the south of the province of Ourense, (Galicia, Spain).

Valdeorras, whose name means “Valley of Gold”, may have been the first grape growing and wine producing region in Galicia. After the ancient Romans had finished mining the area for gold, they planted vines and the wines produced were mentioned in several inscriptions in Latin.

During the Middle Ages the vineyards were taken over and managed by the religious orders. After a centuries long period of decline, the 19th century saw the area take off again. In the 20th century, in the 1970s experiments were conducted to reintroduce the native Godello grape variety.

The area acquired its official DO status in 1945. At DO Valdeorras they explain that the project researched the most appropriate rootstocks and training methods and addressed the grape’s tendency to mature very rapidly due to serious sunshine exposure in autumn. Apparently hillside plantations had given excellent wines from way back in antiquity, so they also looked into what soils and locations could be best. Luckily Galicia happens to have some of the finest slate in Europe. But in all not more than 1,000 square meters (1,200 sq. yards) of vineyard had survived. The surviving Godello vines were around 60 years old, grafted onto a hybrid of Vitis vinifera and rupestris. Clonal selection among these not more than 200 original stocks has been subsequently improved, yet without narrowing it too tightly to preserve polyclonal vineyards.

These pioneers were also some of the first in Spain to use stainless steel, but confessedly the first new Godello’s were not consistent. The lack of immediate varietal aroma slowed its appeal on the international market. Yet thanks to careful work in vineyards and total control of rising maturity at harvest, Godello wines now show an attractive nose and a fleshy, rounded palate. The good thing about Godello is that it allows terroir to shine through, but possible odd smells need to be avoided. This is why a selection table at harvest time is essential.

River Sil Valdeorras
River Sil at Valdeorras

The vineyards of the Valdeorras DO are on the banks of the river Sil, which flows westwards from Castile and León to the province of Ourense. In general the landscape is flat or gently rolling.

As most of the vineyards are on the river Sil valley floor, the soils are alluvial and quite fertile, with good moisture retaining properties.

The vines are planted at a height of between 240 m and 320 m above sea level.

The climate in Valdeorras is a combination of Atlantic, continental and a specific micro-climate in the Sil valley. These factors ensure that the vines receive enough sunlight and heat during the short summer. Rainfall is high, between 850 mm and 1,000 mm per year. Temperatures can drop to below zero during the winter.

In addition to this, there are also risks of late frosts and hails in spring, excessive heat in summer, and violent storms caused by the mixture of the sea breezes and the dry air of the Castilian plain.

The Recommended white grapes are Godello and Dona Branca; also authorised is Palomino Fino.

The Recommended red grapes are Mencia, Merenzao, Sousón, Brancellao; also authorised are Grenache Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Gran Negro, Tempranillo and Negreda.

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Godello Grapes

The essence of Godello

Godello is a white wine grape originating in the northwest of Spain, probably in the province of Galicia (north of Portugal). This grape reaches its best results in the small Village of Valdeorras in Galicia, and does not seem to be grown much elsewhere in the world. There are some other regions in Spain like El Bierzo where there is a development of this grape, but in Valdeorras the results are stunning.

Godello is now one of Spain’s two premier white wines sitting beside Albariño, another well known Galician grape in that capacity.

The essence of Godello grapes is the minerality and acidity. The extra that distinguishes it from many other serviceable varieties with those qualities, is a richness of fruit and wildflower flavours and a somewhat denser body than the usual all-mineral white vines.

Godello is sometimes mistakenly confused with Verdelho, which is in fact a different grape. This name is sometimes used for Godello and also to define the Portugese Gouveio.

Grapes_02

The lost grape

A Phylloxera epidemic hit the region in the 19th century, devastating vineyards and taking Godello to the brink of extinction. To restore the area’s devastated vineyards, vast plantations of heavy-cropping Palomino further squeezed what few Godello vines had survived.

While in Andalusia Palomino grapes were famous for producing sherry, at the north of Spain, in Galicia, Palomino tends to make dumb, lifeless wines best suited to quantity rather than quality. Finally, wise heads in the wine industry realised that a simple and cheap wine was not a good way to foment employment and that the sector had to be quickly redirected. Finally, in the 1970s, the Valdeorras Council launched the “Revival Project”, recovering Godello grapes from the road of the extinction.

Numerous researches were made to find the most appropriate rootstocks and training methods and addressing the grape’s tendency to mature very rapidly due to serious sunshine exposure in autumn. In all not more than 1,000 square meters (1,200 sq. yards) of vineyard had survived. The surviving Godello vines were around 60 years old, grafted onto a hybrid of Vitis vinifera and rupestris.