Gran Bierzo Mencía 2021
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Guía Peñín de los vinos de España
Commitment to old vines and tradition
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A few years ago being based in the D.O. Bierzo was a plus for any winery. We’re talking about one of the most charming Spanish wine-producing areas. A region of smallholdings and contrasts that’s home to the superb Mencía grape. Gran Bierzo Mencía 2021 is young at heart but was grown on old vines (70–90 years), the most sought-after kind.
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General features
General Information
Viñas del Bierzo is a winery that’s made variety the focus of the entire process of creating Gran Bierzo Mencía 2021. This single-varietal is young at heart but comes from gobelet-trained vines between about 70 and 90 years old. The plants grow in aquiferous, calcareous and slate soils at an altitude of more than 550 metres.
After being harvested by hand, the grapes were placed in concrete vats where they were fermented with native yeasts at an uncontrolled temperature. Malolactic fermentation was also spontaneous. Gran Bierzo Mencía then spent three months in French and American oak barrels, followed by a further three months in raw concrete – just enough to ensure that the oak wouldn’t overshadow the expression of the grapes, with the typical notes of raspberry, cherry and blackberry.
Vinos del Bierzo is one of the most traditional wineries of the D.O. Bierzo.
The cooperative started out with 100 partners and now has 500. With more than half a century of experience, it boasts valuable assets as it’s one of the few firms to own old vines, the most prized kind.
Gran Bierzo Mencía 2021 (D.O. Bierzo) goes well with grilled wild mushrooms with garlic and parsley and the traditional local sausage, botillo del Bierzo.
The winery
Founded in 1963 in Camponaraya, Viñas del Bierzo is the first cooperative winery established in El Bierzo. At its inception, 100 members founded the winery, giving it an almost “family-like” character. Today, the great family of Viñas del Bierzo exceeds 500 members. Its vineyards span all the municipalities within the D.O. Bierzo.