Uncovering the Fascinating History of Wine
It is generally believed that the export of Spanish wine began during Roman rule, and demand increased steadily in the following centuries. In the 17th century, Spain experienced a significant increase in exports, which was exacerbated during the phylloxera plague. As French wine production was the most affected, many countries, including France, turned to Spanish wine. Today, thanks to the perseverance and passion for the terroir and the vines, we can taste some of the iconic grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Verdejo and Albarino.
Dominio de Pingus
Pingus
Danish-born enologist Peter Sisseck arrived in Spain in 1993, where he discovered Pingus’ new home in the Ribera del Duero region. The first vintage to come to market was 1995 and was named one of the best Tempranillos by Wine Advocate. After ageing his first vintages in new barriques, Peter gradually abandoned this technique for the later vintages, producing a limited number of cases each year.
Vega Sicilia
Unico
Founded in 1859 by Eloy Lecanda, the winery was purchased by the Herrero brothers at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then that the famous winemaker Domingo Garramiola Txomin began working with Vega Sicilia, introducing the Bordeaux system of ageing in barriques. His first vintage was the Vega Sicilia Unico of 1915, which requires no less than 10 years for this complex ageing process, with the wine spending six years in wood and then four years in bottle.
Marqués de Murrieta
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Tinto
Owned by the Luciano de Murrieta y García-Lemoine family since 1852, it passed to the Cebrián-Sagarriga family in 1983. The famous Castillo Ygay, made from Tempranillo and Mazuelo, has its own unique ageing process, with the Tempranillo ageing for three years in American oak and the Mazuelo ageing for three years in new French oak. After blending, the wine spends one year in concrete and then three years in bottles before being released to the market.
