Valdelacierva Alfar Vendimia Seleccionada Rioja DOC

Valdelacierva Alfar Vendimia Seleccionada Rioja is produced by Bodegas Valdelacierva which is part of Hispano Bodegas. It is a made from a special selection of grapes and is only produced in exceptional vintages.

Hispano Bodegas is a group of three like-minded wineries who united to form a small group selling wines from three of Spain’s most famous wine regions:  Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Rueda. It is 100% Spanish owned. The group consists of Bodegas Valdelacierva in Rioja, Vina Gormaz in Ribera del Duero and Bodegas Grande Winery in Rueda. The group has three main tenets: absolute respect for the vineyard and the terroir to produce the very best grapes to begin with, use of modern technology with respect to the traditions of the past and careful barrel selection in the winery. Their aim is to produce high-quality, terroir driven wines. Hispano Bodegas is a group of three like-minded wineries who united to form a small group selling wines from three of Spain’s most famous wine regions:  Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Rueda. It is 100% Spanish owned.

Bodegas Valdelacierva is located in the heart of Rioja Alta (Navarrete) and has 125 hectares of vineyards divided into small plots with vines that range between 25-130 years old. Bodegas Valdelacierva has long term agreements with wine growers in the Rioja region. Valdelacierva has complete control of the vineyard management, processes and selection which ensures  maximum quality year after year. The wines come from selected vineyards in the localities of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Briones, Baños de Ebro and Yécora. Harvesting is carried out manually following an on-site selection of the grapes. Great care is taken with their transport to the winery, which is done separately based on the plots and the age of each particular vineyard.

The 100% Tempranillo grapes for Valdelacierva Alfar Vendimia Seleccionada Rioja are sourced from selected vineyards in Briones and Banos de Ebro. The vineyards are planted at an altitude of between 425 and 500 metres on shingle-alluvial soils with a calcareous-clay component. The vines have an age of 40 year sold. The grapes for Alfar are handpicked and undergo a rigorous selection. The grapes for macerated for 3 days prior to a temperature controlled fermentation of 24-26ºC for 5 to 7 days. After fermentation there is another maceration for 10 days to ensure good extraction of polyphenols. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation for two months in new French oak barrels. The wine is then matured in new French oak barrels for 10 months, with a further minimum of 12 months in bottle, prior to release.