Spain – Rueda
Poised between the regions Ribera del Duero to the northeast and Toro to the west, Rueda is one of the important, if small, white wine regions of Spain. Indeed, verdejo, the leading white wine of the region is, in terms of the volume produced, Spain’s leading fin white wine. Like Ribera del Duero, Rueda is spread over a dramatic plateau slashed by the Duero Rover before it flows into Portugal. This is a region of extremely cold winters and scorching hot summers. For centuries the principal grape was palomino, the heat-tolerant grape of Sherry.
Microclimate
The climate is continental (long hot summers, cold winters) with a certain Atlantic maritime influences. Temperatures vary widely and can drop below zero in winter (-1 °C) and can reach 30 °C in summer, which is not as high as similar wine-producing regions in southern Central Spain. There is a risk of frost, freezing fog, high winds and hailstones in winter/spring. On the other hand there is only a very small possibility of drought.
Sub-Regions
The DO is centred on the town of Rueda, in the province of Valladolid about 170 km northwest of Madrid. The land is a flat high plain at an altitude of between 600 and 780 m above sea level. The River Duero flows through the area from east to west.
Typical Varietals
The main authorised white varieties are: Verdejo, Viura, Sauvignon blanc, while the authorised red varieties are Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Garnacha.
Terroir
Close to the River Duero the soils are alluvial with a high lime content (max 24%). To the south the topsoil is brown and sandy with a gravel and clay subsoil. Drainage is good, has a rich iron content and is easy to plough.
Rueda Producers & Wines
Finca Valdeguine
In El Cortijo (La Rioja – Spain), one of the most recognized regions in the grape growing and wine making high expression, Valdeguinea Finca consolidates the winemaking tradition, collecting the work of three generations passionate about its vineyards and its wines.
