Valdecuevas

Valdecuevas - off to new shores

Valdecuevas is a project of the Martin family, which has been active in agriculture for a long time. With Valdecuevas, they ventured into the world of wine in 2012. The vineyards of Valdecuevas are located in the heart of the Rueda appellation. On 6 plots of rocky soil irrigated by the river Duero, the Verdejo grape variety is cultivated to produce fresh, harmonious wines with the personality typical of the grape variety of Valdecuevas. The individual vineyards, with vines over 15 years old, are located at an altitude of 770 metres in the municipalities of Rueda and La Seca.

The terroir of Valdecuevas

The soil is rocky and full of gravel from the alluvial deposits left by the Duero River as it passed through the area. The soil texture is sandy-loamy and has a basic pH. The Valdecuevas soil is one of the key factors in the excellent quality of its wines, as the aeration provided by the gravel, combined with the area's particular microclimate of dry, very cold winters and hot summers with cool nights, results in grapes of the highest quality. This climate, so characteristic of the Rueda region, is one of the key factors why the Verdejo of Valdecuevas is so different from the Verdejo grown in other wine regions and is much more expressive.

The main grape variety grown here is Verdejo. The clone and 41B rootstock chosen in the Valdecuevas wineries are unusual, giving small, compact grapes with high oenological quality. The production is limited: the average yield is 7,500 kg/hectare

The grape varieties at Valdecuevas

The grape varieties grown in Valdecuevas are:

• Verdejo: white grape variety that has been native to the Rueda area for centuries, very well adapted to the extreme climatic conditions of the region, which allows the production of fresh white wines with great character
• Sauvignon Blanc: White grape variety that originated in France and is internationally recognised
• Tempranillo: Red grape variety known as "Tinta del país"; this is the Spanish noble grape variety par excellence

Valdecuevas is very demanding in the management of its vineyards, respecting the environment while trying to apply the best cultivation techniques, all for the benefit of the product. Sustainability has been part of Valdecuevas' identity from the beginning, and this is a commitment of the Martin family. As a third-generation family business, it operates according to rules that guarantee successors a much more sustainable world.

In the winery

The winery is located in the so-called "Golden Triangle" in the municipality of Rueda. On the winery itself, on the La Pardina plot, a new building with modern and versatile production facilities offers the possibility of producing a top quality product. In September and October, depending on the ripeness of the grapes, the harvest begins at Bodega Valdecuevas. In order to achieve the excellent quality of the grapes for Valdecuevas wines, not only the ripening of the grapes but also the yield is strictly monitored in the vineyard in order to achieve a limited production and obtain a higher concentration in the grapes, resulting in very rich wines that are powerful on the nose and generous on the palate.

The perfect combination is made up of new technologies and the traditional know-how of the locals, who are the most familiar with how Verdejo behaves. This is ensured by small stainless steel tanks in which a cold pellicular maceration is carried out to obtain a better extraction of the aromas. Only a light pressing is used, in which only the free-run must is used for fermentation at a low temperature (15ºC), which lasts 19-21 days depending on the evolution of the wine. After fermentation, the stirring of the lees, called bâttonage, is essential to give the wine greater smoothness and a better structure on the palate.