Bierzo Wine Region

The Bierzo wine region produces many high quality wines

Bierzo was officially recognized as Denominación the Origin in 1989. Since then, an increasing part of the wines produced in Bierzo are gaining world wide recognition.

The wine region of Bierzo - here Bodegas Pittacum

The Spanish Wine Region Bierzo - here Viñedos y Bodegas Pittacum that produce the wine Pittacum (2011)

The Recognition of Bierzo

The Decanter Magazine has given the Viñademoya Leiros wine (from Bodegas Luzdivina Amigo in Bierzo) a gold medal in 2011.

At the "Great Spanish Fine Wine Encounter" arranged by Decanter the winery Casar de Burbia entered the top 50 best winehouses as did the winery Descendientes J. Palacios with wines like Las Lamas, La Faraona, Corullón and Moncerbal. Also the Spanish wine guide Guía Peñín has given them good critics.

Location and climate

Bierzo is composed of the following municipalities: Arganza, Bembibre, Borrenes, Cabañas Raras, Cacabelos, Camponaraya, Carracedelo, Carucedo, Castropodame, congoston, Corullón, Cubillos del Sil, Fresnedo, Molinaseca, Noceda, Poncerrada, Priaranza, Punte de d. Flórez, Sancedo, Vega de Espinareda, Villadecanes/Toral de los Vados, Villafranca del Bierzo.

Bierzo is located in the northwestern part of the León province in the region of Castilla y Leon.

The climate

Bierzo has a micro climate typical of the Mediterranean: mild temperatures and mild winters. The average yearly precipitations are 721 mm in Bierzo. The soils have a mixture of curd and slate (as in Priorat).

Grapes used

The folllowing grapes are the grapes permitted by the local authorities

Red grapes

Mencia or Negra (the dominant grape in this wine region)
Garnacha redrera
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Tempranillo

White grapes

Doña Blanca
Palomino
Malvasía
Godello

General Characteristics of the wines from Bierzo

Reds

The young wines are made primarily of the Mencia grape (70%). The wines fermented in barrels normally ferment during at least two years.

White wines

The white wines in Bierzo are made primarily of Doña Blanca, Godello and Palomino.

Rosé wines

The rosé wines are normally made of red grapes (50% of these of the Mencia grape), or of mixture of red and white grapes.

Important wineries in Alella

Arturo García, Viñedos y Bodegas. The best wines of the winery: Solar de Sael (Crianza red wine), Solar de Sael Selección.
Bernardo Álvarez. The best wines of the winery: Campo Redondo Godello (white), Campo Redondo Roble (red), Viña Migarrón.
Bodega Alberto Ledo. The best wines of the winery: Ledo 8 (red), Ledo Selección (red).
Bodega del Abad. The best wines of the winery: Gotín del Risc Lías (white), Abad Dom Bueno Roble (red), Carracedo (red), Gotín del Risc Essencia Roble (red).
Bodega Luzdivina Amigo. The best wines of the winery: Baloiro (white), Baloiro (crianza red wine), Viñademoya (red), Viñademoya Leiros (red), Viñademoya (red crianza).
Bodega y Viñedos Luna Beberide. The best wines of the winery: Art (red).
Bodegas Adriá. The best wines of the winery: Vega Montán Godello (white), Vega Montán (white), Vega Montán 10 Meses Roble (red), Vega Montán 9 Meses Roble (red).
Bodegas Almázcara Majara. The best wines of the winery: Demasiado Corazón (white fermentado en barrica), Jarabe de Almázcara Majara (red), Almázcara Majara (red).
Bodegas El Linze. The best wines of the winery: Marta Cibelina (red).
Bodegas Martín Códax. The best wines of the winery: Martín Sarmiento (red), Cuatro Pasos Roble (red), Cuatro Pasos (rosé).
Bodegas Peique. The best wines of the winery: Peique Godello (white) – has obtained 90 Parker points, Peique Rosado (rosé) – has obtained 89 Parker Points, Peique Viñedos Viejos Roble (red), Peique Selección Familiar (red).
Bodegas y Viñedos Mengoba. The best wines of the winery: Mengoba Sobre Lías (white), Folie Douce (white), Mengoba “Mencía de Espanillo” (red), Brezo (red).
Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa. The best wines of the winery: Valtuille Cepas Centenarias Roble (red), El Castro Valtuille (red), Castro Ventosa “Vintage” (red).
Raúl Pérez Bodegas y Viñedos. The best wines of the winery: Ultreia Valtuille (red crianza).
Bodegas y Viñedos Gancedo. The best wines of the winery: Herencia del Capricho (white fermented in barrel), Xestal (red), Val de Paxariñas “Capricho” (white).
Bodegas y Viñedos Paixar. The best wines of the winery: Paixar Mencía (red).
Casar de Burbia. The best wines of the winery: Tebaida (red), Casar de Burbia (red), Hombros (red), Liarán (red).
Cepas del Bierzo. The best wines of the winery: Dos Osmundo (red), Faneiro (red), Escaril (white).
Descendientes de J. Palacios. The best wines of the winery: Pétalos del Bierzo (red), La Faraona (red), Las Lamas (red), Villa de Corullón (red), Moncerbal (red). The winery is controlled by Ávaro Palacios.
Estefanía. The best wines of the winery: Tilenus Envejecido en Roble (red), Tilenus (red crianza), Tilenus Pagos de Posada (red reserva), Tilenus Pieros (red), Castillo de Ulver (red).
Godelia. The best wines of the winery: Godelia white Sobre Lías (white), Godelia 12 Meses Roble (red), Viernes (red), Godelia Selección (red), Godelia Selección (red).
La Serrana. The best wines of the winery: Legus (red crianza).
Losada, Vinos de Finca. The best wines of the winery: Altos de Losada (red), Losada (red).
Mencías de Dos. The best wines of the winery: Ambos Mencía (red), De 2 (red).
Prada a Tope. The best wines of the winery: Prada a Tope (red reserva), Palacio de Canedo (red reserva), Palacio de Canedo Mencía (red), Picantal (red), Palacio de Canedo Godello (white), Palacio de Canedo Maceración Carbónica (red).
Ribas del Cúa. The best wines of the winery: Ribas del Cúa Privilegio (red), Ribas del Cúa Oncedo (red), Ribas del Cúa (red crianza).
Soto del Vicario. The best wines of the winery: Soto del Vicario Men (red), Soto del Vicario Go de Godello (white fermented in barrel), Soto del Vicario Men Selección (red).
Val d’Uria. The best wines of the winery: Val’Uria (red).
Viñedos y Bodegas Dominio de Tares. The best wines of the winery: Dominio de Tares Godello (white fermented in barrel), Tares P.3 Roble (red), Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas (red crianza), Bembibre (red).
Viñedos y Bodegas Pittacum. The best wines of the winery: Pittacum (red), Pittacum Aurea (red crianza), 3 Obispos Crianza (rosé).