rueda

The Rueda Denominacion is located in the northwest of Castile y Leon.  The DO covers an area of just under 40,000 acres and is centered around the town of Rueda, in the province of Valladolid 110 mi northwest of Madrid. The land is a flat high plain at an altitude of between 2,000 ft and 2,560 ft elevation. The Duero River flows through the area from east to west. The climate is extreme continental, with freezing cold winters and blazing hot, dry summers. Annual precipation is quite low.

Vidal’s vineyards are located in La Seca, in the south of Valladolid, on a high altitude (2300-2400 foot) plateau. The soil is rich in limestone with a gravel sublayer beneath. The low fertility of the soil and scarce rains combine to produce low yields of highly concentrated grapes. Dry, sunny weather allows for perfect ripening. The Continental climate, with extreme temperature differences between day and night, is the reason for the unique balance achieved in these grapes.

La Seca is to Verdejo - what Sancerre is to Sauvignon Blanc... It produces the best expression of Verdejo on the planet.

vidal soblechero

Bodegas Vidal Soblechero is located in the village of La Seca, in the heart of Rueda, La Seca is home to . A few years ago, the family that owns the estate, decided to stop selling off their superb fruit and established a small winery. Emphasizing quality, it stands out from the neighboring wineries engaged in high-yield viticulture. The estate includes a significant number of old vines planted by Claudio Vidal Obregón over the last forty years. His ambition is to produce quality wines that reflect the region's unique terroir and climate. The winery is run by Claudio's children, Alicia and Vidal.

Alicia Vidal is responsible for the marketing of the wines as well as the strategic direction of the estate. Her brother, Vidal, a true perfectionist, is in charge of winemaking. Although deeply rooted in his region, he doesn't hesitate to explore new avenues. He has embraced barrel fermentation, a practice uncommon in Rueda.

The estate covers 42 hectares, 20 of which are planted with vines over 60 years old. White grapes account for two-thirds of the harvest. The soil composition in La Seca is extremely varied. It includes sandy soils, clay-limestone soils, layers of pebbles carried by the river, as well as a subsoil rich in limestone, and many other elements. Vines grow on all these different types of soil. It seems logical to want to reflect these different terroirs in the wines. This is why Vidal Soblechero persists with his idea of ​​"pagos," which consists of vinifying the grapes from each plot separately.

Thanks to the altitude and climate, vine diseases are quite rare, and Bodegas Vidal Soblechero is committed to organic viticulture. Only copper and sulfur are used. "We are the only winery in the entire DO to practice spontaneous fermentation," explains Vidal.