Tag Archive for: spanish wine region

DO Wines Spain – Ribera del Duero Spanish Wine D.O. Region

Our Gourmand Breaks DO the Vineyards series is covering some of the great Wine Regions of Spain. First off is the Ribera del Duero Spanish Wine D.O. Region which is located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The principle Red Grape Variety of the Ribera del Duero DO Wine Region of Spain is Tempranillo which produces some fine Spanish Wine.

Quality Spanish wines are classified, using a system called the “Denominación de Origen” or “D.O.”, which in English translates as “designated origin”, to determine where they were produced. Spanish wine laws first created the “D.O.” system in 1932 and each “denominación” D.O. has its corresponding regional regulatory council or “Consejo Regulador”. The Ribera del Duero Denominación de Origen (D.O.) was founded in 1982.

Ribera del Duero Spanish Wine DO region has seen significant replanting since the late 80s and nowadays a modern and very professional approach has been taken to vineyard management and harvesting, which was vital to achieve quality in view of the challenges caused by spring frost, hail and autumn rains.  Substantial investment in upgrading or the apparition of completely new bodegas has also taken place at a fast pace since the Spanish DO of Ribera del Duero was established.

The Ribera del Duero Wine Region of Spain is characterized by a largely flat, rocky terrain, centered on the town of Aranda de Duero. The vineyards of Ribera del Duero Spanish DO Wine Region are sited to the north and south of the River Duero which runs from east to west though its centre with the most famous vineyards surrounding Peñafiel (featuring a castle where there is a very interesting wine museum) and Roa de Duero to the west.

Ribera del Duero Spanish Wine DO Region was the first to open up the red wine making potential of the DueroValley.  It has significantly grown to rival Rioja in terms of prestige and reputation and provides a welcome diversity at the top end of the quality Spanish wine spectrum.

tempranillo grapes

The success of Ribera del Duero Spanish wines is due to the Tempranillo grape, which is used almost exclusively by producers to make reds with various ageing credentials and rosés.   The main focus in the region is however, oak aged wines of a very high caliber which are capable of many years of ageing.

A significant factor where quality is concerned is the high altitude of the vineyards – most of them are located at 750-800 metres above sea level. There is therefore, a wide variation in temperature especially during the summer, when it is not unusual to reach 35˚C during the day and as low as 12˚C at night during August which encourages the vines to rest and favors grapes with lively acidity and concentration.

Special mention should also be made to the fact that the Ribera del Duero Wine Region of Spain was awarded Best Wine Region of the World, in 2012, by ‘Wine Enthusiast Magazine’.

If you love Wine you can’t miss the Wine Regions of Spain!

Join us on a Private Wine Tour like our Essentially Wine – Spain and France to explore the Ribera del Duero Wine Region of Spain as well as the La Rioja, Priorat and Penedes Wine Regions of Spain and Bordeaux Wine Region of France to enjoy expert  guided visits to some fantastic wineries and taste some great wines.

Just some of the wineries you might visit in the Ribera del Duero Wine Region of Spain are:
  • Abadia Retuerta 
  • Bodegas Ismael Arroyo 
  • La Pesquera
  • Emilio Moro
  • Protos

 

More of our Gourmand Breaks DO the Wine Regions of Spain:

Top 100 Wines of the World includes 8 Spanish Wines

North American Wine specialist magazine “Wine Spectator “ has included 8 Spanish Wines in their annual Top 100 Wines of the World List for 2014.

Wine Regions of Spain included in the Top 100 list include La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Bierzo, Castilla La Mancha and a fortified wine from Andalusia:

  • Viña Ardanza Reserva 2005 (34th place)
  • Abadía Retuerta Viño de la Tierra de Castilla y León Sardon de Duero Selección Especial 2010 (50th place)
  • Viña Cumbrero Crianza 2010 (62nd place)
  • Cune Monopole Blanco 2014 (64th place)
  • Godelia Mencía 2010 (68th place)
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Dominio de Valdepusa 2010 (79th place)
  • Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2005 (84th place)
  • Antonio Barbadillo Manzanilla Sanlúcar (95th place)

 

Since 1988, each year, Wine Spectator magazine editors study the wines that have been reviewed over the previous 12 months and select their Top 100 Wines of the World list. This year, 8 Spanish Wines are included in the list. All the wines are classified on a scale from 85 to 100 points (pts) based on quality, value, availability and excitement. This annual list acknowledges successful wineries, wine regions and vintages from all around the world.

If you love Wine you can’t miss the Wine Regions of Spain! Join us on a Private Wine Tour of Spain like our Wine Lovers Tour of Spain and Portugal to explore the Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Priorat and Penedes Wine Regions of Spain and enjoy expert  guided visits to some fantastic wineries and taste some great Spanish Wine.

TOP 100 WINES FULL LIST :

Here’s the complete Top 100 Wines of the World list, 2014, according to Wine Spectator Magazine, with their corresponding punctuation (Pts). The 8 Spanish Wines selected feature in bold text:

# Wine Vtge Pts
1 Dow’s Vintage Port 2011 99
2 Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love 2012 95
3 Prats & Symington Douro Chryseia 2011 97
4 Quinta do Vale Meão Douro 2011 97
5 Leeuwin Chardonnay Margaret River Art Series 2011 96
6 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2010 95
7 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2012 97
8 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2012 94
9 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Don Melchor 2010 95
10 Château Léoville Las Cases St.-Julien 2011 95
11 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2011 95
12 Château Guiraud Sauternes 2011 97
13 Fonseca Vintage Port 2011 98
14 Fontodi Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2011 95
15 Bedrock The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley 2012 95
16 Two Hands Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella’s Garden 2012 95
17 Soter Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District Mineral Springs Ranch 2012 95
18 Château Doisy-Védrines Barsac 2011 95
19 Luca Malbec Uco Valley 2012 93
20 Peter Michael Chardonnay Knights Valley Ma Belle-Fille 2012 95
21 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva 2010 93
22 Podere Sapaio Bolgheri Volpolo 2011 93
23 St.-Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010 96
24 Massolino Barolo 2009 95
25 Bodegas y Viñedos O. Fournier Malbec Uco Valley Alfa Crux 2010 94
26 Emeritus Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Hallberg Ranch 2011 93
27 Quinta do Portal Douro Colheita 2011 92
28 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 94
29 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2012 93
30 DuMOL Syrah Russian River Valley 2012 94
31 Tommasi Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo 2011 92
32 Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 55% Slope 2009 93
33 Orin Swift Machete California 2012 93
34 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 2005 92
35 Amavi Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2011 92
36 Marcassin Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Marcassin Vineyard 2009 97
37 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà 2010 94
38 Aubert Chardonnay Russian River Valley Eastside 2012 95
39 Oddero Barolo 2010 93
40 Loosen Bros. Riesling QbA Mosel Dr. L 2012 91
41 Rombauer Chardonnay Carneros 2012 92
42 Lapostolle Clos Apalta Limited Release Colchagua Valley 2010 94
43 Charles Smith Riesling Columbia Valley Kung Fu Girl Evergreen 2013 91
44 Viña Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère Colchagua Valley 2011 91
45 Tikal Patriota Mendoza 2012 91
46 Turley Zinfandel California Juvenile 2012 91
47 Luce della Vite Toscana Luce 2011 95
48 Fincas Patagonicas Malbec Mendoza Zolo Reserve 2012 91
49 Trimbach Riesling Alsace 2012 91
50 Abadia Retuerta Viño de la Tierra de Castilla y León Sardon de Duero Selección Especial   2010 92
51 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2010 97
52 Herman Story Grenache California On the Road 2011 93
53 Ponzi Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Tavola 2012 91
54 Mumm Napa Brut Napa Valley Prestige NV 91
55 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley El Caballero 2011 90
56 João Portugal Ramos Alentejo Ramos Reserva 2012 90
57 Viña Bisquertt Syrah Colchagua Valley La Joya Gran Reserva 2012 90
58 TwentyFour Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2010 93
59 Peter Lehmann Clancy’s Barossa 2011 90
60 St.-Urbans-Hof Riesling QbA Mosel Old Vines 2012 90
61 De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Legado Reserva 2011 92
62 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Viña Cumbrero Crianza   2010 90
63 Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia Bayten 2013 90
64 Cune Rioja White Monopole   2013 90
65 Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2011 96
66 Fowles Shiraz Victoria Are You Game? 2012 91
67 Tohu Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Single Vineyard 2013 90
68 Godelia Mencía Bierzo   2010 92
69 Feudo di Santa Croce Primitivo di Manduria LXXIV 2010 91
70 D. Kourtakis Assyrtiko Santorini Greek Wine Cellars 2012 90
71 Roar Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella’s Vineyard 2012 93
72 Château Lilian Ladouys St.-Estèphe 2011 90
73 Gérard Bertrand Syrah-Grenache Languedoc 2011 90
74 di Majo Norante Molise Ramitello 2011 90
75 Disznókó´ Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2006 94
76 Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne 2012 90
77 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis 2010 97
78 Acrobat Pinot Noir Oregon 2012 90
79 Marqués de Griñon Cabernet Sauvignon Dominio de Valdepusa   2010 93
80 Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore Quadrio 2010 90
81 Domaine de Triennes Vin de Pays du Var St.-Auguste 2010 90
82 Mulderbosch Faithful Hound Stellenbosch 2011 91
83 Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 2013 90
84 Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial   2005 94
85 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Marina Cveti S. Martino Rosso 2010 91
86 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County Huntington 2012 90
87 Firriato Sicilia Santagostino Baglio Soria Red 2011 91
88 Christian Moreau Père & Fils Chablis 2012 91
89 Carol Shelton Zinfandel Mendocino County Wild Thing Old Vine 2011 90
90 Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Trocken Wachau Terrassen 2012 90
91 Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure 2012 95
92 Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Incanto 2010 90
93 Recanati Cabernet Sauvignon Galilee 2012 90
94 Château Lamartine Cahors 2011 90
95 Antonio Barbadillo Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda Solear   NV 90
96 Domaine Gerovassiliou Epanomi White 2013 90
97 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna 2012 90
98 Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier Victoria 2012 90
99 Loimer Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein Trocken Kamptal 2012 91
100 Saint Clair Pinot Noir Marlborough Pioneer Block 16 Awatere 2012 92
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Wine Regions of Spain … Gourmand Breaks DO the Vineyards

Spain’s wine history dates back to pre-Roman times, but it is only over the past few decades that the quality of Spanish Wine has significantly improved throughout the whole country and led to Spanish Wine being exported, sought after and enjoyed all over the World.  Wine is BIG in Spain and vines are cultivated all over the country!

Wine Regions of Spain

Thanks to http://www.beaconwinecompany.com/ for the great map

Spain is a vast country with differing climates and soils and all of the autonomous communities of Spain produce wine with their own grape varieties, Regulatory Councils and specific types. Due to the expanse of the land – Spain has around 3 million acres of vines planted – climates and types of grapes, there are numerous Wine Regions in Spain resulting in a fantastic variety of Spanish Wine. The best-known Spanish wines, however, are Cava, Rioja, and Sherry which are three very different wines made in three very different wine regions.

Quality Spanish wines are classified using a system based on the “Denominación de Origen” or “DO”, designated origin, which determines where each wine has been produced. Spanish wine laws created the “DO” system in 1932 and it was later revised in 1970. The “DO” system is similar to the Appellation d’origine contrôlée “AOC” system of France, the Denominação de Origem Controlada “DOC” of Portugal and the Denominazione di origine controllata “DOC” of Italy.

priorat wine day tour

In addition to the “DO” system in Spain there is also the Denominación de Origen Calificada “DOCa” or “DOQ” in Catalan, a status for DOs that have a consistent track record for quality. There are currently only two DOCa/DOQ regions in Spain: Rioja and Priorat.

In 2009, there were 79 Quality DO Wine regions across Spain, but undoubtedly, the most well-known Spanish DO Wine Region, especially for its red wine, is La Rioja – also a DOCa/DOQ Wine Region of Spain. There are, however, many other Spanish wine regions that produce high quality red wines, like Ribera del Duero or the other DOCa/DOQ wine region of Priorat.

Although the known type of Spanish wine is red wine, Spain also produces high quality white wines, especially in Galicia, Cava and Jerez (sherry) which is produced in the south, near Jerez in Andalusia.

Over the coming months we’ll be showcasing some of the DO Wine Regions of Spain in our “Gourmand Breaks DO the Vineyards – Wine Regions of Spain” series like:

 

If you love Wine you can’t miss Spain!

Join us on a Private Wine Tour of Spain like our Wine Lovers Tour of Spain and Portugal to explore the Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Priorat and Penedes Wine Regions of Spain and enjoy expert  guided visits to some fantastic wineries and taste some great Spanish wines.

Penedes Wine Region, Spain – Visit Vines and Taste Wines

Looking to escape the bustling city for the day while you’re staying in Barcelona ? Then why not get out into the country and include the Penedes Wine Region in your custom-built tour itinerary, where you will Visit Vines, Taste Wines and enjoy an excellent local lunch overlooking the vineyards of the Penedes Wine Region of Spain.

Here’s what you can expect on your exclusively Private Penedes Wine Day :

Our friendly chauffeur will collect you this morning from your Barcelona hotel  and whisk you away in his luxury vehicle to the Penedes wine region of Spain.

You will start your day with an unforgettable visit to an exceptional Vineyard, owned by one family since 1790 and situated in the heart of the Penedés wine region of Spain. A bilingual in-house expert will take you on a private tour of the vineyards, which have been ecologically cultivated for more than 300 years. It is no wonder their wines have been officially certified as “ecological-organic” since 2004. You will be amazed at how the “intervention” of bees, sheep, and lunar phases can help create such outstanding wines. What’s more, the grapes in this vineyard are all hand picked to ensure harvest at the ideal time for each vine.

Back at the cellar, the in-house oenologist will proudly show you the entire wine making process and finally guide you through a complete tasting of an array of ecological and organic varieties of wines and cavas. Additionally, the vineyard owners make their own olive oil, and they will gladly explain to you the process and properties of this “liquid gold” while you enjoy a tasting, accompanied by local bread.

Surely after this intense vineyard morning visit you will be ready to be treated to a fine lunch of delicious local home-made cooking at an elegant, yet cozy restaurant located in a charming typical Penedes village with magnificent views to the Montserrat mountains. Enjoy delicious Catalan cuisine with superior presentation, accompanied with fine wines from the surrounding vineyards.

In the afternoon, your venture will take you to a very well known cava cellar in Spain and one the most important vineyards in the Penedes Wine Region. The owner was born into a dynasty of tailors and musicians but went into the world of cava at a very young age, a world that turned into his profession and his passion. Pioneering, passionate and tireless, he created the first wine analysis laboratory in the industry, managed important wineries in the Penedès region and set up his own cava winery in 1950.

The top-quality sparkling Spanish wines, made by this Penedes winery, use the traditional method of making Champagne but with a blend of the classic Penedes region grape varieties of Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada. They only produce Reserva and Gran Reserva vintage cavas here because it’s the long ageing that creates the complex bouquet and fine bubbles of the cavas. You will have a private visit with an in-house bi-lingual wine specialist and will enjoy the beautiful masia and grounds, as well as the underground stone cellars and several private tastings!

Sit back and relax now, as your chauffeur will return you to Barcelona after your wonderful Penedes Wine day.

 

Explore the Penedes Wine Region of Spain on one of our great Private Wine Tours.  

Our Extensive Grand Wine Tour of Spain and France is an incredible private wine tour covering top wine regions in Spain & France, including Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Bordeaux, Priorat and Penedes. With time in between to explore the wonders of Madrid, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Carcassonne, Emporda and Barcelona, this truly all encompassing private wine tour also provides a smattering of culture, delightful accommodation and an opportunity to sample the differing foods of the regions.

Penedès, Spain – Wine and Vine Country

Penedès is one the richest wine regions of Spain and is primarily known for its wines and cavas.  Although small, this Spanish wine region is full of surprises, and  even though the key elements that have molded the Penedès area are Grapes and Wine, the character of the region is also shaped by its history, nature, gastronomy and it’s dynamic people.

Penedes Wine Country, Spain

The Penedès scenery is full of vineyards, bodegas, quaint Catalan masia farmhouses and small villages and towns with a great history.  One of our favorite Penedès villages is Sant Martí Sarroca, an ancient settlement.  This lovely Penedès village, with its tiny houses and cobbled streets huddled around a great rock, offers uninterrupted views of the Penedès vineyards with the Montserrat mountains as a backdrop.  Apart from the magnificent views, an atmospheric 10th Century castle and the beautiful Romanesque church of Santa Maria stand proudly at the top of the hill. There are some small restaurants in the village where you can enjoy a good local lunch accompanied by good Penedès wine and, of course, the fantastic views.

Sant Martí Sarroca, Penedes

The Penedès locals are open and friendly with a  love of showing off their land.  There are not many Penedès residents who cannot identify which grape is on the vine or prepare the correct glasses for wine-tasting. They know the wineries like their own families and are always delighted to give you insider tips on what’s hot in the Penedès air at the moment.

There are over 150 bodegas in the Penedès wine region of Spain producing a diversity of wines.  The trained vines of the Penedès vineyards enable the grapes to have more exposure to the sun which enables them to ripen better.  The Montserrat mountains protect the Penedès from the North Winds, so with the Mediterranean climate, warm soft temperatures and little rain, it is the perfect place for the Chardonnay, Macabeu, Xarel.lo, Cabernet and Merlot grapes to grow, among many others.

The Penedès area is a big producer of White Wine, a good part of this being cava, as in the 20th century the revolution for Catalan sparkling wine  changed the way of everyday life and habits here in Penedès wine country. Today, the traditional white wines are light, aromatic and happy, with the local variety of Xarel.lo adding personality to the wine, and the sparklers and rosés are fragrant and persistent with an intense aroma.

Even though the white grape varieties dominate in Penedès, a host of well-made red wines are now notably on the rise in production and defend their place with a balanced, silky and aromatic body.  However, in the category of reds, Penedès have yet to catch up with their illustrious neighbor Priorat.

With the multitude of wine cellars, either famous mass marketers or discreet  local sellers, Penedès is a great region to learn of traditional wine-making methods along with new technologies, organic practices and innovative ideas. Proud of their world class wines, many bodegas in Penedès open their doors and invite you to tour their premises to view their beloved vineyards and vast cellars, and, of course, to taste their craved results.

Early Spring in Penedès sees the vines ooze with sap, which is a sure sign that new shoots are ready to grow.  In Spring and Summer the vines are alive with green leaves.  Harvesting will occur in late summer and in early Winter the pruning will begin.

 

Discover this great Spanish wine region of Penedès while on one of our private wine tours. Our fantastic  Luxury Grand Wine Tour of Spain and France  includes not only the Penedès Wine Region of Spain, but also the wine regions of Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Bordeaux (France),  Emporda and Priorat as well as the cities of Madrid, San Sebastian and Barcelona.

Exciting Young Wineries in the Spanish Empordà Wine Region

Not only is the Empordà region of Spain a beautiful and fascinating place to visit with Medieval Girona, Besalú, Pals and Peratallada, not to mention gorgeous picture-postcard seaside villages, but it also offers some unique and very exciting young wineries.  Led by wine specialists and oenologists, who prefer to grow their grapes on an ecological  basis, some fine wines are now being created from Empordà vineyards and they are well worth a visit.

Emporda Spanish Wine

One such Empordà winery is Terra Remota lying under the mountains, close to the border of France.  Nothing less than “great wine” is the goal of this winery owner and his team.  Lying long and low on a plateau embellished with hillocks in the shadow of the Pyrenees,  is the raw concrete “bodega” designed by Spanish architects Pépe Cortés & Nacho Ferrer.  It is recently built, but in time will surely hide itself entirely in its natural surroundings. This ecologically run vineyard and their fine wines have gained a fabulous reputation, having resided on the Wine Lists of more than one Michelin 3 starred restaurant!

You can really enjoy something very special after a visit to this Empordà winery;  take a lazy short walk through the vineyards to the picnic area, where you can put your feet up and lounge in the shade of the tall trees on the sun beds provided. Having selected the wine of your choice beforehand, everything will be delivered to you at the picnic area – local cheese, ham, pate, tomato, grapes and bread, a feast for two. With the sun filtering through the tree tops, take time out to breathe in the fresh mountain air as you sip your delicious coffee at the end of a truly relaxed picnic.

Mas Estela – Not only do they produce high rated wines, but the location of this Empordà winery is sublime. It is tucked into a valley within the Cap de Creus natural park and is only 3 kms from the Mediterranean sea, with it’s moderating influence, and near to the charming village of Selva de Mar.

The family came here in 1988 and bought a large ruin with some 50 hectares of valley and scrub land with steep slopes on either side. Having rebuilt their house, they planted the terraces with varieties such as syrah, monastrell and garnatxa gris to complement the garnatxa, cariñena and muscat which already existed.

This organic Empordà vineyard  also applies bio-dynamic principles by looking at the cycles of the moon to interact with the soil, to know when to work on the vines or add natural fertilizer. This means that the environment is not polluted by any type of chemical and as such the whole variety and diversity of organic, insect and wildlife is preserved and encouraged creating a truly healthy environment.

Mas Oller – Carlos Esteva is a pioneer in creating quality wines in Spain.  He started making wines in the Penedès Wine Region at Can Ràfols dels Caus Estate, near Barcelona.  In the seventies he was the first to introduce the Merlot grape variety to Spain and his GRAN CAUS Tinto 1984, a wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in French oak barrels, was a completely new concept in Spain. Also, his white wines are unique.

Mas Oller

With the Mas Oller project, Carlos decided to rescue the Empordà family estate from oblivion and asked his old friend, Peter Schoonbrood, a Dutch expat, to set up the concept for the new winery and the wines.  In the year 2000 he decided to plant vines to produce new, prestigious, high-quality wines.  Some wine was made from the young vines in the earlier vintages and was sold locally.  Now, the Empordà vines have reached the right age for achieving the desired concentration of fruit.  The first wines were launched in April 2009 and the response since then has been extremely positive.

* La Vinyeta – A small Empordà vineyard and olive farm situated at the heart of the beautiful Emporda wine D.O region. It is a young, dynamic, family company, run by the enthusiastic oenologist Josep Serra and his wife that is the fruit of much effort and ambition. In 2002 they purchased two excellent old Carignan and Grenache vineyards, aged between 50 and 75 years. From that moment on, more and more vines were planted, up to the present 30 hectares.

La Vinyeta

The project was consolidated in 2006 with the construction of the winery and the making of the first wines. In 2009, La Vinyeta became one of the first wineries to adopt Integrated Production, an environment-friendly cultivation system. This is the context in which the wines of La Vinyeta are born.

Their signature wines (Heus, Llavors and Punt i Apart) are structured as if they were part of a unique story.

  • “Once upon a time” for the Heus label, the freshest and youngest of their wines; which is produced in red, white and rosé varieties.
  • “Then” for  Llavors, which suggests evolution after spending six months in oak casks.
  • The story is completed with the distinct Punt i Apart  “new paragraph”; La Vinyeta’s flagship wine, and our definite favorite, which stays 13 months in oak casks.

 

Besides their great tasting Empordà wines, another aspect that sets La Vinyeta apart from other wineries is their superb design. The work of Lluís Serra, Josep’s brother, has been recognized for its originality in their packaging, logo design and the naming of their products. Every detail of their concept is well thought out and has a reason for being there, from start to finish, as the story goes.

 

Enjoy visits to some of these, and other, wineries in the Empordà region of Spain on one of our  Private Wine Tours custom designed just for you. 

Grape Stomping Fun in Spain – Wine Tours in Grape Harvest Time

grape harvest and stomping tour in Spain

Grape stomping fun:  Kick off your shoes and get ready for an unforgettable experience

The idyllic perception of a winery visit is a tour of a vineyard followed by a tasting of their respective wines.  Everyone knows this; so, at Gourmand Breaks as we are always on the lookout for a bit of extra special, we added some hands on action and some good food and “voila” a Harvest, Stomping Winery Day was born – enjoy this innovative experience in early Fall on one of our Private Wine Tours

What is it?  

Grape-stomping, also known as pigeage, a French winemaking term for the traditional stomping of the grapes, is part of a method of maceration used in traditional winemaking.  Rather than using a wine press or other mechanized method, grapes are crushed by foot in opPurple feeten vats to release their juices and begin fermentation.  However, to make certain types of wine, grapes are put through a crusher and then poured into open fermentation tanks.
Once fermentation begins, the grape skins are pushed to the surface by carbon dioxide gases released in the fermentation process.  The grapes and stems are mashed together, releasing not only the juice from the grapes, but also the phenols and tannins that provide color and acidity. This layer of skins and other solids is known as the cap. As the skins are the source of the tannins, the cap needs to be mixed through the liquid each day, or “punched,” which traditionally is done by stomping through the vat.  Pigeage, literally means “punching down the cap,” and describes the pushing down of the grape skins that float to the surface of the fermentation vats, forming the “cap.”

A little bit of history:

Grape stomping probably goes back to the very beginnings of winemaking.  Historical evidence shows that grapes were stomped at least as far back as Rome in 200 BC. One of the earliest existing visual representations of the practice appears on a Roman sarcophagus which depicts a group of demigods harvesting and stomping grapes at a rural Roman festival.

For centuries grapes were picked by hand and grape stomping was the universal method used to extract the juice to make wine. In America, most grape stomping by human feet was legislated out of existence by the end of the twentieth century, the concern for public health outweighing tradition. Most other countries eventually banned grape stomping too, but there are still places where you can stomp grapes.

What you can expect: A day in pictures

La Vinyeta 2013_047

Fantastic vineyard settings provide the perfect setting for a private harvesting and stomping tour

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Harvesting the grapes.
The berry bunches grow at the bottom of the vine, dry ones are discarded and green ones are left to ripen

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As the harvester transfers overflowing buckets into the vat, the next step is the stomp

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A hop, a skip or a jump…….a stomping we will go.

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Everything from the vat gets transferred into the Wine Press

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The lower the the press churns the more liquid flows

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The grape juice then transfers into the fermentation tanks where it will continue on its journey to become wine

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Depending on the intention of the winemaker the wine may be fermented in oak barrels

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After an exciting day at the vineyard and after gaining a deeper understanding of the process now a chance to sit back and truly appreciate an example of the finished products. Cheers!

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A group of ladies who recently enjoyed one of our stomptastic private harvest tours

 

For more information on this or any of our private wine tours please do not hesitate to contact us !

This innovative experience can be included in our longer private tours such as the Wine Connoisseur Tour of Spain or The Best of Spain & France Grand Private Wine Tour

Please note that grape harvesting, and subsequently stomping, is only available during the appropriate grape harvesting season of each vineyard.  In Spain the focus will be in the months of September/October.

 

 

Priorat Wineries – Some of the Best Cellars in Spain

Clos d Obach Priorat winery private tour

People often ask us, “Which is the best wine region in Spain” and though we always reply that there are so many good ones in our country, we frequently suggest that they visit the Priorat and Montsant Wine Regions, which have emerged in the last ten years or so as producers of brilliant, rich, glowing and award winning wines.

Some of our favourite wineries in the Priorat are: Read more

Wines with the Wierdest Names!

 

It is certain that wines with funny or odd names exist in all corners of Spanish wine geography.   In Catalonia we have Finca Malaveina (Bad Neighbour) from Castell de Perelada in Emporda.   A Bodes em Convides (You Invite me to a Wedding) in Penedes, or Cap de Ruc (Head of a Donkey) from Celler Ranadelles de Cornudella de Montsant.  A donkey is also the protagonista of La Senda del Burro (the path of a donkey) of Viñedos Propios Pajares in Leon.   There is a saying that, “he who goes to a winery and does not drink wine arrives as a donkey and leaves as a donkey”.

“Thanks to our friends, we finally managed to do the bottling and now you can enjoy our most acid creation”;   this is the surprising presentation card of a young wine from La Rioja of Spanish Winery,  Gonzalo Gonzalo, which is sold at around 5 Euros a bottle and on which label you can see a pig with feathers.

Wine labels are the surprise situation for many different animals, for example, El Pero Verde (The Green Dog) a very successful verdejo from Spanish wine region, DO Rueda, fruit of the collaboration of Bodegas Angel Lorenzao Cachazo and Catalan Wine Merchant, Quim Vila from the famous Vila Viniteca.   In collaboration with Bodegas Viscarra, Quim Vila also promoted the wine Venta Las Vacas (Villa of the Cows), DO Ribera del Duero.  But clearly the prize goes to Cojón de Gato (Cats Balls)and Teta de Vaca  (Cow’s Tit).   We don’t even want to mention a brand of Alpujarras in Almeria, Tetas de la Sacristana (Tits of the Priest’s Housekeeper)!

Clearly if we go around the world we will find names which are repulsive to some extent, such as French Frog’s Piss or Le Vin de Merde (The wine of shit) On the label of this last one you can read Le pire cache le meilleur (the best is hidden in the worst)

They are many bizarre names of wines to suit each taste –  The Australian Beach, The Fat Bastard from Languedoc-Russillon, the Californian Mad Housewife, or the Nappa Valley Cleavage Creek.   Clearly those of a superstitious nature should abstain from tasting the Chilena Gato Negro (Black Cat) or Casillero del Diablo (Coffin of the Devil)

Let us at Gourmand Breaks customize a unique wine tour for you and your friends which includes a route of the Spanish wineries mentioned in this article !

Rioja Wine Best Value in World 2012- Luis Cañas Crianza 2009

We are very pleased to announce that Luis Cañas wine Crianza 2009 was considered the best value wine in the world for 2012 by the prestigious American magazine Wine Advocate , led by the American guru Robert Parker. As is known, this publication is the international benchmark as far as wine is concerned and is followed by millions of wine enthusiasts worldwide

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