Taste Vino Rueda

Vino Rueda has a long history, which has had an unconditional impact on the flavour characteristics of the variety.

The Verdejo variety was bred in the 11th century. It immediately made a profit for its owners, and by purifying the wine with local clay, the fame of the finished drink boomed across two continents. For nine centuries, everything was fine, cultivating the juiciest and tastiest vines until an epidemic of phylloxera broke out in the early 20th century. 

This grape louse wiped out ⅔ of all the vines, and to preserve the variety; they had to move the vines to another region, away from the epidemic. Preference was given to stable and yielding vines, while the highest quality vines were left to be eaten by phylloxera. Thus began the restoration of the vineyards. In 1935, the Rueda territory decided to be given DO status, but it took 45 years to achieve this goal. The status was obtained only in 1980. 

Today Rueda is a respected and beloved brand. There are 50 wineries certified as Rueda DO. Rueda wines are the 4th largest producer in Spain.

Flavour of Rueda Wine

Rueda has a light, refreshing body with mischievous medium acidity and a dry flavour profile:

– lemon.

– green melon.

– grapefruit.

– pitted.

– fennel.

– white peach.

Like any white wine, it is aged in bottles and kept away from oak barrels.

What Rueda wines are made of?

The main variety of all Rueda wines is Verdejo. It is a white grape with hints of herbs and ripe fruit. Its vines are high, so this grape survives winters, short springs, and late frosts well. Dry and hot summers are no problem for it, and it grows well in the harsh conditions of the province of Rueda.

In order to obtain a high-quality must, these grapes are harvested at night. This protects the grapes from sunlight and prevents oxidation, and the temperature is also lower at night, which helps keep the harvest fresh.

Where is Rueda, and how does it affect wine?

There are 12,000 hectares of Rueda vineyards in northern Spain, partly in Castile and León. They spread over several provinces, the largest being Valladolid, Segovia and Avila. 

The natural conditions are harsh but, at the same time, ideal for the cultivation of Verdejo. The area is located in the delta of the river Duero. 

The altitude of the vineyards ranges from 750 to 850 meters above sea level: wide river runs, gentle slopes, Atlantic winds. The soil is dark brown, rich in calcium and magnesium, stony, and drained. Such soil is not suitable for any agricultural crops, but the grapes grow first class on it, much to the credit of good insolation and the efforts of local winemakers. 

The vines are bathed in sunlight, this triggers the formation of sugars, and the skins accumulate aromatic essential oils. The grapes ripen quickly. Due to the fact that the temperatures in Rueda constantly fluctuate in a wide range, the grapes grow very sweet, without excessive acidity. 

There is also very little rainfall in Rueda, so all the vineyards are artificially irrigated, and in the past, measures were taken to retain moisture in the vines.

The labelling of Rueda wines

Since the territory of Rueda has DO status, it strictly regulates the quality of its products. Two labels are now accepted:

– Rueda. This is a wine that has at least 50%, Verdejo.

– Rueda Verdejo. It has at least 85%, Verdejo. But in most cases, the wine is 100%, Verdejo. 

This is another peculiarity of this grape variety – it also makes a good wine without the addition of other grapes.

Rueda Verdejo is a delicious wine for little money. It is the most popular wine in Spain, because for a modest amount of money you get a pleasant evening, a delicious aperitif, the perfect accompaniment to dinner.