Finca Ayles 2024 'Valderba' Tempranillo, Zaragoza Spain

Tempranillo, the great Spanish grape of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, has never been more popular.  Spanish vintners know this as well, so we see Tempranillo plantings in traditional (Toro) and non-traditional (La Mancha and everywhere else in Spain) growing regions for the grape, such as the local for our April Wine of the Month, Zaragoza.  Located about three-and-a-half hours west of Barcelona by car, this northeastern Spanish region south of Rioja doesn’t really have any internationally famous wines grown there; most of the wine produced there is consumed locally.  Then along came the Valderba Tempranillo, and folks in the U.S. have suddenly taken notice.

Valderba is a family owned winery (the owner and winemaker is Immaculada Ramón) for the past 35 years, although grapes have been grown in this place since the middle ages.

This wine is a youthful Tempranillo.  Vinified in stainless steel tanks, the wine preserves all the fruit flavors without wood influence.  Sporting an intense ruby color with violet nuances, Valderba is made in a fruit-driven style. Elegant and easy to drink, with fresh red and black fruit aromas falling onto a medium-bodied texture and an expressive minerally finish.  At 14% alcohol, it reflects the sunny climate the grapes were grown in. 

Just 1200 cases produced.