HISTORY
VINE: 475acres(192ha)across54 parcels
KEY VARIETALS: Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Garnacha, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Godello and others under study
ECO: Willbefullycertifiedorganicin 2024;somebiodynamictrials
INNOVATE: Climatechange mitigationmanagementprojectunderway, basedonunderstandingnatureandterroir
Santa María de Retuerta was an ancient working estate at its inception in 1146, where monks continued the traditions of vine-growing and winemaking. Sold directly by the monks, 17th century documents show Abadia Retuerta was the dominant wine in Valladolid, the market of major importance in the region. The vineyards were largely uprooted under private ownership in the 1970’s. Bought by the Sandoz corporation in 1988, they recognized Abadia Retuerta’s unique viticultural potential and collaborated with French winemaker Pascal Delbeck to restore the estate, its vineyard and original landscape. Delbeck designed the current winery, which was built in 1996. Ángel Anocíbar, current director of viticulture and oenology, joined the team that same year.
Good to Know
: Abadía Retuerta’s Corporate Social Responsibility practices include generating employment, boosting the local economy and promoting sustainable tourism. An annual CSR Report is published under the criteria established by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Winemaker Pascal Delbeck (Château Belair, Ausone) have collaborated since 1996 to identify 54 distinct parcels, classified by soil composition, variety and exposure.
Affectionately known as "Professor Bacterio” for his obsession with quality and microbiological control of wines, Ángel is responsible for both the vineyard and cellar. This allows for methodical work and steady progress each year in understanding their terroir and howitisexpressedintheirwines.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
EXPERIMENTATION AND INNOVATION In the 90s, Abadía Retuerta began to study and recognize the effects of climate change. Varieties that could fare well and be blended with their flagship Tempranillo — like Touriga Nacional, Garnacha and others — were planted. The longer cycle of these varietals preserve acidity, and have are better adapted to hot and dry environments. They also found an ancestral, pre-phylloxeric variety of Tempranillo surviving in their pine forests. These vines had managed to overcome frosts, fogs, droughts, diseases and are thus adapted specifically to Abadía Retuerta. These vines are currently being recovered and developed and will be called Tempranillo Abadía Retuerta.
MICRO-VITICULTURE AND MICRO-VINIFICATION
All 54 parcels are independently cultivated, hand-harvested and selectedat sorting tables, and vinified separately to preserve terroir identity. Native yeast is used for alcoholic fermentation and natural bacteria for malolactic. Abadía Retuerta practices minimal intervention and adapt all winemaking practices to respond to the nuance of each vintage.
GRAVITY FLOW WINEMAKING The estate’s patented vinification method uses of gravity to achieve a more natural, delicate handling of the grapes, careful to maintain the character of each variety. This follows Abadía Retuerta’s the general winemaking philosophy, which is driven by the desire to harvest at the right moment to maintain a natural acidity that brings freshness, balance, and fineness of tannins.
Therearemorethan25red and white grape varieties plantedinAbadíaRetuerta’s experimental plots. They willbestudiedovertimeto see how they adapt to the terroir and changing climateconditions.
How is the terroir reflected in the wines of Abadía Retuerta?
Soilsareextremelyvaried,allowingAbadíaRetuertato maintain homogeneity and consistency each vintage. The wines show menthol-like balsamic aromas from the surrounding scrubland, rockrose, aromatic herbs and pines. The dry continental climate supports mature fruit that yields complex wines with intense colorandconcentration.
Pascal Delbeck and Ángel Anocíbar carried out an extensive study of climate and soils, revealing a great diversity of microclimates and soils within the estate that they divided into 54 plots, with the terroir of the four most singular plots (Negralada, Garduña, Valdebellón,andPetitVerdot)
showing the perfect balance of soil, microclimate andvariety.
Singularities of the winery
Abadia Retuerta is one of the oldest wineries in Europe. Today, the 12th century abbey is a also designated National Patrimony site, and home to a five-star hotel, Le Domaine, with luxury spa and one-starMichelinrestaurant.
Why is Abadía Retuerta a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
GPE provides support to Abadía Retuerta in the
ABAD A RETUERTA
PORTFOLIO: Abadia Retuerta
Selección Especial; Pago Negralada; Pago Garduña; Pago Valdebellón; Petit Verdot; Blanco LeDomaine; Cuvée Palomar
Retuerta
Varieties (2018 vintage)
77% Tempranillo, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, Merlot, Petit
12 months American and French
íA RETUERTA
of Santa María de Retuerta 47340 Retuerta Valladolid
Abadía Retuerta
