The core mission of Valenciso is simple: to make exceptional, elegant Rioja. Valenciso was founded in Rioja Alta and dedicated to making Tempranillo by winemakers Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso. After years of cellar and vineyard work in both France and Spain, they left their former jobs to lend their considerable experience and vision to Valenciso.
CLIMATE: Atlanticclimate;average temperature52°F(12°C)
ELEVATION: 1,476-2,001feet(450-610 meters)
SOILS: Calcareous-clay
CLASS: DOCaRioja
VINE: 72acres(30ha)dividedin23plots
KEY VARIETALS: Tempranillo, Graciano,Viura,GarnachaBlanca
ECO: Practicingorganicwithsome biodynamicmethods
INNOVATE: Maximumexpression throughvinificationandaginginconcrete andFrench oak
Between both Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso, they had worked with three of the biggest names in winemaking: Jean Gervais, Michel Rolland and Denis Dubourdieu. In 1998, after 15 years in senior management of a prestigious winery in Rioja Alavesa, they wanted to return to Rioja Alta where they were born. They chose this very boutique, personal project after working for large operations. Valentín jokesthat after 38 years working together, “Most people think Carmen and I are married...but we are just business partners.”
Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso are the core of Valencisco. As owners and winemakers, they combine their years of experience making wine in Spain and France. They are joined by a “tasting committee” made up of José Hernández Rufs and Ana Ruiz. All together, they have more than 126 years of professional experience.
Winemakers: CarmenEncisoandLuisValentín
(integrated) viticulture. In 2017, they switchedtofullorganiccultivation.
Valenciso cultivates plots in several northern Rioja Alta municipalities: Ollauri, Briones, Haro, Rodezno, Gimileo, Zarratón and Villalba. Poor clay and limestone soils predominate, which coupled with the mild Atlantic climate, helps maintain the acidity in the Tempranillo that is adapted to this area. The soils also help retain some moisturetomoderatehydricstress.
Rioja Alta benefits from mostly Atlantic climate conditions. The milder temperatures and rainfall contribute to providing an optimum growing season. The grapes have a chance to ripen more steadily over time, allowing for the potentialofmorecomplexwines.
In order to bring out the classic and refined elements of Tempranillo from northern areas of Rioja Alta, Valenciso only harvests 1.82 tons per acre (4,500 kg/ha), well below the allowed 2.63 tons (6,500 kg/ha), in order to ensure the high qualityassociatedwithlowyields.Manualharvestingensuresarigorousselectioninthevineyard.
FERMENTATION IN CONCRETE, AGING IN OAK
Valenciso ferments their flagship red Reserva exclusively in concrete tanks to produce vivid wines with considerable longevity. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous and also takes place in the concrete tanks. French oak aging lends elegance and richness, and time in barrel each year is determined by tasting. Valenciso renews one-third of their barrels eachyear.
Once barrel aging is complete, the wine is transferred back to the concrete tanks for sedimentation. Since concrete helps achieveamorecompletesedimentationofthewine,noclarificationorfiningisneeded.Theresultisaricherwine,andone thatisaptforvegansasnoanimalproductsareused.
Valenciso prefers French oak to age their Reserva, but uses Caucasian oak to barrel-ferment Valenciso Blanco and to age their monovarietal bottling of Graciano.
The entry into Grandes Pagos was a milestone for Valenciso, and they are proud to be part of this selectgroup.OneofGPE’smostvaluablebenefits is sharing experiences and knowledge, and learningfromgreatcolleagues. variationstothesefactors.
For Valenciso, terroir means the identity of the clay-calcareous soil, the relative altitude of Rioja Alta, the Atlantic influence on the climate, the finesseoftextureoftheTempranillowithlowyield andthesoftextractioninthewinemakingprocess. All of these factors are evident in the finesse, eleganceandvivacityoftheirwines.
Why is Valenciso a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
VALENCISO PORTFOLIO:
Valenciso Blanco, Valenciso Reserva, Valenciso 10 Años Después
Valenciso Blanco
DOCa Rioja
Varieties
30% Garnacha Blanca, 70% Viura
Vinification
Barrel-fermented in Caucasian oak
Good to Know
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1915
Valenciso Reserva
DOCa Rioja
Varieties
100% Tempranillo
Vinification
Around 20 months aging in French oak
Good to Know
Light-medium and medium toast barrels are used
Ctra. LR-313 Ollauri-Nájera 26220 Ollauri La Rioja
