Alion Bodegas
Alión is a winery founded around a single red wine, and nearly everything about it stems from that fact. Located in Ribera del Duero, the winery sits right next to Vega Sicilia and, although part of the same family-owned business, operates independently based on its own philosophy regarding what Tinto Fino should taste like.
Every year, the entire production is aged in new French oak barrels, which are never reused. The grapes are hand-harvested, placed in 12-kg crates, and sorted before being transferred to tanks.
The grapes are harvested from vineyards spanning the entire appellation, from Soria in the east to Valbuena de Duero in the west, and are subsequently blended into a single wine.
The history and mission
Bodegas Alión was founded in 1986 by the Álvarez family, owners of Vega Sicilia, with a clear mission: to reinterpret Ribera del Duero from a modern perspective, distinct from the historic winery located right next door.
Independence is the key. While Vega Sicilia blends traditional and modern methods in its winery, Alión was established with new equipment. Though they share the same family and the same Duero region, they offer different approaches.
The family also owns Bodegas Pintia in the Toro region. However, Alión was never intended to be a second wine of Vega Sicilia. Alión was created to stand on its own as a distinct entity.
From Soria to Valbuena
Alión cultivates an 85-hectare vineyard located in Ribera del Duero. Of these, approximately 35 hectares are situated around the winery, while the remaining 50 hectares consist of plots within the historic Vega Sicilia vineyard in Valbuena de Duero, which are reserved exclusively for Alión.
In addition to this core area, the winery sources grapes from vineyards extending to the eastern boundary of the appellation in the Soria region. Ribera del Duero stretches long from east to west, and environmental conditions vary noticeably along this stretch.
It is precisely this wide distribution that is key. Alión describes this wine as a mosaic of personalities, with each vineyard possessing unique characteristics found nowhere else, all of which harmoniously blend together through the blending process to form a single Ribera.
One grape, two names
Alión is made from a single variety: Tinto Fino: The local name for Tempranillo
Because Ribera del Duero growers have been cultivating this variety for a long time, it exhibits characteristics distinct from Tempranillo grown in other regions within Spain. Alión exhibits a deep color and a robust structure, and the finished wine typically has an alcohol content of around 14.5-15%.
New barrels, every single year
The grapes are harvested by hand and placed in 12-kg boxes; they are then immediately transported to the winery and sorted on a sorting table. Because the boxes are small, the grapes at the bottom are not crushed by the weight of those above them.
Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled wooden tanks and continues until the polyphenolic structure, tannins, and pigments that form the wine's backbone are fully developed.
The aging period ranges from 12 to 14 months, depending on the vintage, and takes place in Bordeaux barrels from the leading Bordeaux firms. All barrels are new. Once the wine is transferred from the barrels for bottling, Alión does not reuse those barrels. Although this is a costly process, it is a deliberate choice. Concrete and oak vats are also used during the aging period, and the wines from each vineyard block are blended at this stage.
The wine is then allowed to age. It matures in the bottle for at least 15 months before release, during which time the fruit and oak aromas harmonize.
What leaves the bodega
Bodegas Alión is a winery that produces only one wine, called Alión. It is a red, dry, full-bodied Ribera del Duero, produced from Tinto Fino, and is released annually as a vintage wine using the same method each year.
There is also a set of three vintages, the 2017, 2018, and 2019 vintages, called Alion Collection Case. Made from grapes harvested for three consecutive years, this set, which features the same wine, offers an intuitive way to see how much the vintage affects the wine's characteristics in this specific area of the Spain region.
The Vega Sicilia from Valbuena de Duero and the Pintia from Toro, which belong to a broader family group, are produced separately at their respective wineries and each has its own unique name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alión the second wine of Vega Sicilia?
No. Alión is owned by the same family but runs as a separate bodega with its own winery, its own vineyards and its own winemaking approach.
Where is Bodegas Alión based?
In Ribera del Duero, in Castilla y León, next to the Vega Sicilia estate at Valbuena de Duero. Its vineyard holdings reach east as far as the province of Soria.
What makes Alión's cellar unusual?
The entire production is aged in new French oak Bordeaux barrels every year, and those barrels are retired from the winery afterwards rather than reused.
Does Alión make white wine?
No. Alión produces one red wine from Tinto Fino.
