GPE Media Kits_ Region 1 Meseta Norte_BELONDRADE_EN
Didier Belondrade wanted to create a French-style “vin de château” where the wines would authentically express their terroir of origin. His discovery of the untapped aging potential of Verdejo led him to Rueda. In 1994, Belondrade’s dream came true when his winery launched in Nava Del Rey. Two years later, the first vintage of BELONDRADE Y LURTON was released and its success echoed around the globe as the winery debuted in the Japanese and American markets. Today, Belondrade has expanded its selection of wines while maintaining its commitment to theCastilianMesetaanditsterroir.
The production of Belondrade wines began in a rented facility in Nava del Rey in 1994. Now, they are produced in the winery’s own facility located in the town of La Seca, on top of the Castilian plateau and just a few kilometers from the Duero River in Tordesillas. The winery was designed by Vincent Defos du Rau and is reminiscent of the Castilian Meseta, which seamlessly blends into its surrounding environment.
In 2012, 12 years after the opening of the winery in La Seca, Belondrade inaugurated the barrel cellar. They will debut a new building in 2023 inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House (Illinois, USA) which will house the offices and the reception center.
THE FAMILY
Belondrade is a family winery with 16 team members. Though founder Didier Belondrade is active in leadership, son Jean overseesdailyoperations.Jeanhasbeenaroundthewinerysince hewasachild,andwantedtocontinueinthefamilybusiness.He studied the famous DUAD in Bordeaux and holds an MBA. Experiences in France, Chile and Germany added depth to his understandingofterroirandpassionforthewineworld.
Early on, Didier chose Winemaker Marta Baquerizo to be an accomplice in realizing his unorthodox vision of Verdejo. She studied enology in Bordeaux and interned at Pétrus. Marta was one of only three women winemakers in Rueda at the time, and since has mentored many young winemakers in her more than 20yearsatBelondrade.
In 2015, the Belondrade Arte y Vino Foundation was created as a way to highlight and promote all forms of artistic interpretation and make them accessible to society. Didier Belondrade believes that a discussion of interpretation is the bridge between the worlds of art and wine.
SUSTAINABLE VALUES
As a fierce advocate of sustainable practices from the start, BELONDRADE has maintained a commitment to the Castilian Meseta and local biodiversity. In 2007, the estate produced its first wine using indigenous yeasts and 100% spontaneous fermentation, and obtained organic certification in 2010. In 2016, Belondrade’s obsession with diversity and character led to the acquisition of two more plots of old vines – La Alameda and La Cruz. Their latest projects include experimenting with different cover crops to encouragesoilregeneration.
TERROIR
The soils on the plateau date from the Cenozoic (or Tertiary) Era, forming around60millionyearsagoandarecharacterizedbytheirlowcontentof organicmatter.Theyareprimarilymadeofalayerofpebblesaround10to 60 centimeters (4 to 24 inches) thick, a layer of clay subsoil and a deep layeroflimestone.Ineachofthe23plots,thereisamixofpebbles,sand, clayandlimestone,whichinvaryingpercentageslendseachwineunique styleandpersonality.Plotsarealsodifferentiatedbytherelativeageofthe vines,theorientation,plantingdensityanddistinctpruning.
The climate is continental with little rainfall, characterized by long, cold winters and short, hot summers. Great thermal amplitude between day and night allows for phenolic maturity and high acidity, lending complexitytothefruit.
La Seca
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
VITICULTURE Plowing encourages soil aeration (oxygen supply to support proper development of microorganisms and the root system) and eliminates weeds, limiting the damage from spring frosts and improving the capture and use of rainfall. Experiments with different cover crops are used to study their impact on soil regeneration. A relatively long, late pruning inhibits the growth of the buds and prevents possible damage from late frost and hail. Summer pruning is usually done to choose the formation of future bunches and foster aeration. Green harvesting ensures even ripening and closer yield management.
VINIFICATION All 23 parcels are vinified separately using spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Wines are aged on lees in tanks or barrels of different characteristics and volumes, including trials with concrete. Lees aging adds volume on the palate, and the slow micro oxygenation from aging with lees in barrels leads to pastry and brioche notes on the nose.
THE ART OF ASSEMBLAGE BELONDRADE’s philosophy is that the best expression of terroir is achieved by blending. Each parcel helps produce finesse, structure, length and elegance, and BELONDRADE uses this range to produce their own singular cuvées. The tasting process begins in February which defines each new vintage of Quinta Apolonia. Didier and Jean Belondrade, together with Marta Baquerizo, then choose the final assemblage of Belondrade y Lurton in June to represent the diversity of terroir and the conditions of each vintage. Quinta Apolonia is blended as an interpretation of the Verdejo variety, using both stainless steel and barrel-fermented wines.
Two of BELONDRADE’s annual releases – Quinta Apolonia and Quinta Clarisa– are named after Didier Belondrade’s daughters.
How is the terroir reflected in the wines of BELONDRADE?
BELONDRADE’s wines explore the elegance and aging potential of Verdejo. Plots with a higher proportion of clay (such as La Bodega and Cantarranas) provide more structure, while those with sandier soil (such as Camino Ventosa) offer finesse and freshness. A pronounced salinity is attributed to the limestone veins that cross some plots such as Cañada and Tomillar Grande. The presence of river stones contribute to the development of phenolic maturity while preserving highacidities.
The wines show notes of fennel, hay, honeysuckle and citrus fruits on the nose, as well as structure, acidityandbitternessonthepalate.
Singularities of the winery
BELONDRADE was a pioneer in exploring the aging potential of Verdejo. The wines helped shape the world’sunderstandingofthevarietyanditspotential toexpresstheterroirofLaSecainRueda.
Why
is
BELONDRADE a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
BELONDRADE joined GPE in 2012 to defend and promote a concept which has always been a part of the estate’s identity: terroir. The association is a platform to gather the voices of some of Spain’s most recognized and respected producers in order to promote Spanish wines’ uniqueness and identity aroundtheworld.
BELONDRADE PORTFOLIO:
Belondrade y Lurton, Belondrade Quinta Apolonia
BELONDRADE Y LURTON
DO Rueda
Varieties
Varies by vintage: 95% Verdejo, 5% other varieties
Vinification
9 months French oak on lees, 5+ months bottle aging
Good to Know
Grapes are sorted up to three times (hand harvested, sorting machine and sorting table) ensuring that the best will be used
BELONDRADE
QUINTA APOLONIA
VdT Castilla y León
Varieties
Varies by vintage: 95% Verdejo, 5% other varieties
Vinification
⅓ barrel-fermented, ⅔ fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks
Good to Know
Grapes from same vineyards as Belondrade y Lurton
LEARN MORE
Paraje de los Levantes Quinta San Diego 47491 La Seca Valladolid
