2 minute read
El Lagar de Isilla
Feature : Ribera del Duero
El Lagar de Isilla
This producer has wine tourism down to a tee. It all started in 1995 in the 15th-century historic underground cavern below the now-existing restaurant Lagar de Isilla
The family purchased a historic, rundown cellar and painstakingly refurbished it, expanding it into a winery, hotel, gift shop, and spa with two restaurants. The bubbly Pilar Zapatero Pinto, Export Manager, and family spokeswoman greeted us upon arrival.
The property is close to the still operational eight-hundred-year-old Monasterio Santa Maria de La Vid. The hotel offers eleven suites and nine rooms, all with a wine or regional theme. We stayed in The Barrels Junior Suite (€145) with a King Bed, Hydro massage tub, and shower. It was spacious and well-decorated.
Pilar suggested that we visit the spa with a heated pool in the basement. It had many jets for soothing your back and neck. It also had a mist shower which alternating hot and cold misting.
After getting dressed, we went downstairs to the bar and restaurant La Casona de la Vid, where we enjoyed cocktails. We were later met by Miguel Sans Cabrejas, Director General of the Ribera del Duero D.O. Miguel provided an update on recent regional developments, including news that three more wineries were under development and would be opening soon.
Since Pilar had family obligations that night, Miguel joined us for dinner and guided us through a tasting of El Lagar de Isilla wines.
Wines Tasted:
El Lagar de Isilla Albillo Mayor 2020 **** ½ $32
Straw gold color. Aromas of apricot and citrus. Saline, fresh fruit, and elegant floral flavors with a great finish. Only one thousand, seven hundred bottles were produced.
El Lagar de Isilla PARAJE PEÑALOBOS 2019 ****1/2 $38
100% Tempranillo from three vineyards with an average age of 100 years, located at 900 meters (2,952 feet). Deep ruby color. Aromas of black fruit, blackberry, juniper, and tobacco. Flavors of lush black fruit, spicy peppers with fantastic tannins. Less than three thousand seven hundred and fifty ml and fifty magnum bottles were produced.
El Lagar de Isilla
https://www.lagarisilla.es/
