The RUEDA
Character
What makes us unique
RUEDA
VERDEJO
GRAPE
The Verdejo grape has been grown in the Rueda Designation of Origin for over 10 centuries. What makes it so special is the combination of its aroma and flavour, with hints of wild mountain herbs and fruit and refreshing acidity.
The extract, the hallmark of great white wines, is noticeable due to its volume and characteristic bitterness, delivering a burst of originality on the palate along with a high fruit concentration.
These wines are very harmonious, and their finish makes you want to keep tasting more.
Continental Climate
DO Rueda is found on high plains rising to between 700-870 metres (2,300 to 2,800 feet) above sea-level. Winters are cold and very long; springs are short, and late frosts are frequent. In contrast, summers are hot and dry, occasionally interrupted by an unwelcome thunderstorm. These conditions mean that the vine’s roots are forced to seek out water deep in the subsoil, more than in other regions of Europe.
The vines bud late, with pruning often lasting into March or early April. Rainfall levels are very low, with a minimum of 300 litres and a maximum of 500 litres per year.
However, the marked difference between day and night temperatures is a key factor in helping to maintain the balance between the grapes’ sugar levels, brought about by the sun, and excellent acidity, maintained by the cool nights. Annual sunshine can be as high as 2,600 hours, which would be excessive if it were not for the late ripening of the grapes. Rueda is geographically in what would be classed as a Mediterranean zone, thanks to its latitude. However, high altitudes mean that the region also has a Continental influence.
GRAVELLY
SOIL
DO Rueda is located in the central area of the depression formed by the River Duero, on a smooth plateau blown by Atlantic winds. Broad alluvial and diluvial terraces extend close to the banks of the River Duero and its tributaries: the Trabancos, Zapardiel, and Adaja.
The area has brown soils that are rich in calcium and magnesium, rocky yet easy to plough, with good ventilation and drainage and some limestone outcrops at the top of the rolling hills. Permeable and healthy, their texture varies from sandy-loamy to loamy.
The geological substratum has evolved on the surface towards rocky allochthonous deposits, giving rise to the typical gravelly plots where the best DO Rueda vineyards grow.