Vega Sicilia aging barrel.
The vineyards are part of the Denomination of Origin Ribera del Duero, a privileged area where vines have been cultivated since the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula. Vega Sicilia is a member of the prestigious Association Primum Familiae Vini, along with other prestigious wineries, such as Marchesi Antinori, Château Mouton Rothschild, Torres and Pol Roger, among others.
Vega Sicilia was founded in 1864—in the center of the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon—by Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who planted and cultivated 18,000 vines of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Pinot Noir varieties. He brought the original vines from Bordeaux, France.
At present, the 150-year old winery covers 985 hectares of land distributed among the municipalities of Quintanilla de Onesimo and Valbuena del Duero. The Álvarez family bought the winery in 1982, and CEO Pablo Álvarez is at the helm of the business enterprise, which includes vineyards and wineries in other parts of Spain and Europe. Álvarez is a dedicated promoter of highly refined wines such as the Vega Sicilia Único, a sublime creation and a world reference that has become the winery’s emblem.
1. Vega Sicilia winery. / 2. Workers choosing the best grapes. / 3. Inside the winery. / 4. Pablo Álvarez. / 5. Inside Vega Sicilia, the wine is aged.
Vega Sicilia Único combines excellence in aroma and flavor. It is the result of the particular characteristics of an exceptional terroir with a favorable microclimate and the professional experience of people passionately devoted to the production of outstanding wines. Its taste leaves an intense and memorable impression on the palate, thanks to a prolonged rest in oak barrels.
Vega Sicilia Único has achieved great sales success and is one of the most internationally renowned Spanish wines. It is made predominantly with select Tempranillo grapes combined with some Cabernet Sauvignon and, to a lesser extent, Merlot. After fermentation, it goes through what is probably the world’s longest aging period for red wine–almost ten years between barrel and bottle–greatly benefiting the oxidative processes of the Tempranillo grape.
This wine faithfully displays the balance between body and taste, power and fullness, adequate aging, and a recognizable flavor that has placed it among the best wines in the world. It is distinguished by its complexity, with a flavor that is both delicate and well balanced.
Given its enormous commercial success, it was necessary to establish a quota system to allow it to reach all corners of the world, as demand far exceeds the available supply.
Nowadays, Vega Sicilia Único graces tables and cellars in Europe, USA, Australia, Japan, and China. It has already reached more than a hundred nations, and each uncorking is tantamount to high quality, a sign of good taste and a promise of enjoyment. ■
