Bodegas Beronia Rueda 2020
Winemaker Notes
Beronia wines are defined by the region and the soils in which the vines are grown, and its name is linked to the history of the area. During the 3rd Century BC the region, known today as La Rioja Alta, was inhabited by the ‘berones’, a Celtic tribe who called the area ‘Beronia’.
The winery was founded in 1973 by a group of friends from the Basque country who wanted the best wine to accompany their gastronomic get-togethers (called Txoko in their native Basque). The winery was acquired by Gonzalez Byass in 1982, while some of the original founders still visit the winery to dine as they have done for decades.
The winery is surrounded by 20 hectares of own vineyards. The technical team at Beronia also control 870 hectares of vineyards within a 10km radius of the winery, enabling them to exercise optimum control over the quality. Beronia’s blend is led by Tempranillo, and complemented by Graciano, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Viura. Sustainable agriculture is practiced at every level with certain vineyards certified organic.
The role of oak is key to the Beronia style. The winemaker and his team are constantly studying how the wines react to different levels of toasting and types of wood. These experiments have led to Beronia’s pioneering development of mixed barrels; produced from American oak staves and French oak tops.
Rueda is located along the banks of the Duero River in Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive north of Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back to the 12th century, it was in the 1980s that the region was granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 70 wineries call Rueda home. This national favorite is the top-selling white wine in Spain.
Notable facts Rueda’s main grape variety, Verdejo, gets it distinct complexity from stressful growing conditions and mineral-rich soil. Think of Verdejo as a fuller-bodied and more aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. A lush and smooth character with perfectly balanced acidity means Rueda wines pair well with seafood, fresh salads and spicy food, but are also great on their own.
Captivating and full of character, Verdejo grows with great success in Rueda, Spain and virtually nowhere else in Europe. It has become so trendy in Spain since the turn of the century that plantings have also increased tremendously. Somm Secret—Contrary to what some may think, it is actually not related to the Portugese variety with a very similar name, Verdelho. In fact, DNA profiling suggests it may be a sibling of Godello, another native of NW Spain.