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The estate wines of Spain hare having a good week! Last Wednesday (June 12, 2019) the EU approved three new Vinos de Pago as protected designation of origin/PDO wines of Spain.
All three of these newly-registered Pagos are located in the comunidad autónoma of Castilla-La Mancha—making a total of 11 Pagos (out of Spain’s new current total of 18) located within the region. According to the fresh-off-the-presses documentation, the details concerning these PDOs include the following:
Vino de Pago Vallegarcía
- Location: Specified parcels in the municipality of Retuerta del Bullaque (Ciudad Real); located within the VdlT Castilla; the area is close to and influenced by the Bullaque River; soils of the region are known for high acidity/low pH
- Allowed grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Viognier
- Types/styles of wine:
- Viognier: Both stainless steel and French oak barrels are used for fermentation; wine is lees aged for a minimum of 6 months
- Red˜single-variety and blends: Both stainless steel and French oak barrels are used for fermentation; maceration lasts for 7 to 28 days; oak and barrel aging are utilized but minimum aging time is not specified
- Other notes: The use of pre-fermentation maceration (cold soak) is common; must and wines are gravity-fed through much of the production process; both red and white wines are known for their herbal aromas (described in the white wines as white flowers, lavender, and rosemary and in the red wines as Mediterranean scrub and lavender)
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Vino de Pago La Jaraba
- Location: Specified parcels in the municipality of El Provencio (Cuenca); within the confines of the existing La Mancha DO; the area has almost no hills and sits at a consistent elevation of 700 meters (2,300 ft) above sea-level; vineyards are surrounded by oak and pine forests
- Allowed grape varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Graciano
- Types/styles of wine:
- Red blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Graciano; aged in oak barrels for at least 9 months followed by aging in the bottle for at least 9 months
- Red blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot; aged in oak barrels for at least 6 months followed by aging in the bottle for at least 6 months
- Varietal Merlot (red): 100% Merlot, aged in oak barrels for at least 6 months followed by aging in the bottle for at least 6 months
- Other Notes: Wine may be fermented in stainless or French oak; fermentation process is initiated via the “grapes’ own microbial flora”
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Vino de Pago Los Cerrillos
- Location: Specified parcels in the municipality of Argamasilla de Alba (Ciudad Real); the area is locally referred to as the “Vega Alta” section of the Guadiana River
- Allowed grape varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah
- Types/styles of wine:
- Varietal Tempranillo (red); 100% Tempranillo, aged in oak for at least 30 days
- Varietal Syrah (red); 100% Syrah, aged in oak for at least 6 months
- Red blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon; aged in oak for at least 6 months
- “Private Collection” red blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon; aged in oak for at least 13 months
- “Cabernet Sauvignon de Familia” (Family Reserve Cabernet); 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon; aged in oak for at least 24 months followed by at least 18 months of bottle aging
- Other notes: Grapes are harvested between 5 o’clock and 11 o’clock in the morning; wine is fermented in stainless steel; délestage (rack-and-return) is used throughout the fermentation process; wine is not pressed but is clarified via racking
Welcome to the world, Vino de Pago Vallegarcía, Vino de Pago La Jaraba, and Vino de Pago Los Cerrillos!
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
References/for more information:
- Journal of the European Union for June 12, 2019
- EU Commision Implementing Decision – Vino de Pago Vallegarcia
- EU Council Implementing Decision Vino de Pago La Jaraba
- EU Council Implementing Decision Vino de Pago Los Cerrillos
- Announcement via the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
- La Bodega de Vallegarcía
- Pago de la Jaraba
- Bodegas Montalvo Wilmot/Finca los Cerrillos