Ribera del Duero Producers COPY

Question 1

What event exploded Único onto the world stage?

Answer 1

The 1929 Barcelona World’s Fair (1917 and 1918 vintages)

Question 2

Who founded Vega Sicilia, and when?

Answer 2

Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves (1864)

Question 3

Name three vintages in which Vega Sicilia did not release an Único

Answer 3

1988
1992
1993
1997
2001

Question 4

How long does Único age? Valbuena 5º?

Answer 4

Único ages at least 10 years: 1-2 years in 50/50 French and American oak (all new on the french, 1-4yo on the American), then 5+ years in large old oak, then 3-4 years in bottle.

Valbuena 5º ages 3 years in mixed oak, and 2 in bottle (5º refers to the number of years in barrel).

Question 5

What is Vega Sicilia’s Riserva Especial?

Answer 5

Their top offering (15,000 bottles released per year [v. 40,000+ of Único]); a non-vintage blend of two to three vintages of Único.

Question 6

When did Vega Sicilia add 8,000L tanks to the winery?

Answer 6

2010

Question 7

How does Vega Sicilia break down the vineyard by age of vine? What is the trellising?

Answer 7

20-25 year old vines for Valbuena
60-65 year old vines for Unico
No fruit is used until the vine is at least 10 years old
The vineyard is 80% Tempranillo, trained en vaso, plus Bordelais varieties trained en espalier.

Question 8

What other wineries are owned by Vega Sicilia?

Answer 8

Alion (Ribera del Duero)
Pintia (Toro)
Oremus (Tokaj)

Question 9

Which grapes were originally brought back by Chaves but no longer exist at Vega Sicilia?

Answer 9

Carmenere

Pinot Noir

Question 10

What was Valbuena 3º?

Answer 10

A reserva level wine with 3 total years of aging - discontinued in 1988 to reduce confusion.

Question 11

Where is Atauta? How large is it, and what is special about the vines?

Answer 11

Soria, in the town of Atauta
They own 15ha, but control 40ha, spread out over 600 plots
90% of the entire acreage is ungrafted, and average age is over 60 years old. Replanting by layering.

Question 12

Atauta Single Vineyards

Answer 12

La Mala
Llanos del Almendro
Valdegatiles

Question 13

Where is Sastre?

Answer 13

Burgos, in the village of La Horra

Question 14

Sastre: Wines

Answer 14

Tinto
Crianza
Rosado
Flavus (Jaén, stainless, in collaboration with Gerardo Mendez of Do Ferreiro)
Pago de Santa Cruz (900M elevation single vineyard, 18mos new American oak. Also produced as Gran Reserva, 30mos in old oak)
Pesus (80yo vines, 100% new french for 24mos, 85% Tempranillo plus Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot)
Regina Vides (100yo Tempranillo vines, 24mos in new french oak)

Question 15

Who is behind Pingus?

Answer 15

Peter Sisseck

Question 16

What are Sisseck’s wines?

Answer 16

Pingus (80-100yo vines, 50% new french, driven by elegance and concentraton rahter than power. First vintage 1995.)
Flor de Pingus (different vineyards than Pingus 60-70% new french, fermentation in stainless, meant to be consumed younger)
PSI

Question 17

When was Emilio Moro founded? When did wine production begin at the estate?

Answer 17

1932 with the planting of the Finca Resalso vineyard

Winemaking began in 1988

Question 18

Emilio Moro: Wines

Answer 18

Finca Resalso (entry level, named for the original estate vineyard)
Emilio Moro (flagship, 50/50 french/american)
Malleolus (25-75yo vines, new french)
Malleolus Valderramiro (single vineyard, planted 1924)
Malleolus Pago de Sanchomartin (single vineyard, planted 1964)

Question 19

What is Clon de la Familia?

Answer 19

A limited edition wine produced by Emilio Moro to benefit Wine Helps Water. Vintage 2009.

Question 20

When, where, and by whom was Tinto Pesquera founded?

Answer 20

1972 by Alejandro Fernandez in Pesquera, north of Peñafiel in Valladolid.

Question 21

What are Fernandez’s other estates?

Answer 21

Condado de Haza (Ribera del Duero, 1980's)
Dehesa la Granja (Zamora, 1998)
El Vinculo (La Mancha, 1999)