Feature : Rueda

Rueda is one of Spain’s only designated white wine regions.

Today the region produces more than 40% of Spain’s white wine production. The region was granted official status by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture on January 12, 1980, making Rueda the first official wine appellation in Castilla y León. Today the Rueda D.O oversees the regulations that maintain quality wine growing production for the region.

The production area established by the Rueda appellation is in the Castilla y León region and is made up of 74 municipalities: 53 in the south of the Valladolid province, 17 in western Segovia, and four in northern Ávila.

We were honored to be hosted by the Marketing and Communications team as well as the Director of the Rueda D.O for exclusive tastings, delectable meals, and a rare late night harvest experience.

The primary grape Verdejo is native to the region. Sauvignon is second in popularity.

Other white grapes include Viura, Palomino Fino, Viognier, and Chardonnay.

The D.O is best known for white wines (still and sparkling) but also authorizes red grape varieties. The main red is Tempranillo, but other grapes permitted include Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.

The region is also producing still, and sparkling rosé wines made from at least 51% of the authorized red grape varietals.

During our visit to Madrid, we found many Rueda wines on the restaurant wine lists as well as in grocery stores. In the region, there was tremendous support for the locally produced Rueda wines.

Rueda Quick Facts:

• Hectares of Grapes Planted: 20,724 (51,210 acres)

• Percentage white grapes vs red grapes: 99.56% White, 0.43% Red

• Percentage of Verdejo grapes, versus total white wines: 88%

• Bottles of Rueda wine produced per year: 110 million bottles (1.833 million six bottle cases)

• Rueda’s production of white wine versus all white wines in Spain: 41.8%

Visiting Rueda:

The communication manager at the Rueda DO put together a spectacular itinerary for our visit to the region.

Our transportation company was Viajes El Corte Ingles, and our driver Nuria was outstanding and spoke English.

•Bodegas y Vinedos Shaya, part of Gil Family