Vega Sicilia

Bodegas Vega Sicilia

Vega Sicilia is problably the most famous Spanish wine estate, founded in 1864, near the town of Valladolid in the Ribera del Duero area.

The vineyard was planted by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves with grapes from the Bordeaux region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Those grape varieties are still used today to produce the wines. By the end of the 19th century, the wine was referred to as Bodegas de Lecanda. The current name, Bodegas de Vega Sicilia is used since the early 1900’s.

Already in the 1920’s the wine won huge acclaim at international wine festivals, but the really great vintages came in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s. Since 1982 (also the year when Ribera de Duero became a “Denominación de Origen / D.O.), the estate has been owned by the Alvarez family.

Vega Sicilia has at present almost 120 Ha under vine, with many of the vines almost 100 years old. The estate produces three kinds of wine: “Vega Sicilia Unico”, usually released 10+. years after the vintage and made from a blend of approximately 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only released in exceptional vintages with an average production of 80.000 bottles.

“Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial” is made from a blend of 3 different top vintages. Some of these wines may contain grapes from vintages, which were harvested more than 30 years apart from each other. A rare and fabulous wine with a production of only 15.000 bottles when released.

The third wine is the “Valbuena 5” (until 1998, Vega Sicilia also produced a “Valbuena 3”), which has been aged for 5 years. A blend, composed of Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

All the wines released at Bodegas Vega Sicilia are true masterpieces, but the legendary vintages from the past are: 1994, 1986, 1970, 1968, 1962, 1953 and 1942.