Rueda
Rueda is situated in the heart of Castilla y León, predominantly on the Meseta Central plateau and particularly known and renowned for its Verdejo wines. Rueda winemaking history goes way back to the Middle Ages and is therefor full of traditions concerning winemaking.
Grapes in wines from Rueda
The grapes and terroir of wines from Rueda
Geographically positioned about 150 kilometres northwest of Madrid along the Duero River, Rueda excels in the production of dry, aromatic white wines primarily made from the Verdejo grape. The grape is native to Castilla y León and is shows hints of melon and lime, often compared to Sauvignon Blanc or Picpoul. It is therefor often used as an excellent alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, And verdejo is often used as a blend component with various other grapes, usely to enhance the depth of Rueda wines.
The vineyards of Rueda contain around 5% from Viura and Sauvignon Blanc and less than 0.25% of Palomino Fino grapes. And while Rueda mainly focuses on white wines, there's also a limited production of Rueda Tinto and Rosado made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
The climate in Rueda can be characterized by cold winters and hot summers, with significant day-night temperature shifts. The soils contain clay and sand which contributes to the typical style of Rueda wines.
Other regions
Classifications of Rueda wines
Rueda is a Denominación de Origen (DO) since the early 1980s.
A wine labelled as "Rueda Verdejo" must contain a minimum of 85% Verdejo.
The recent inclusion of Chardonnay and Viognier shows the region's ambition to have more diversity in grape varities in its wines.
The labelling system assures clarity, delineating between 100% Verdejo and blends with other grapes. Wines labelled "Rueda" may contain up to 50% Sauvignon Blanc and other white grapes
