Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Adorado (Solera) is produced by Bodegas Menade, a family estate located in Rueda, in the heart of Castile and León, on Spain's northern Meseta plateau. The vines thrive in a continental climate marked by significant temperature variations, promoting slow maturation and the preservation of freshness. The soils, predominantly composed of sand, gravel, and limestone, bring tension and finesse to the wine. The vineyard is managed organically and follows a tradition of oxidative wines from the Rueda region.
Made from old Verdejo vines, this wine is crafted from hand-harvested grapes, with gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place in large oak vats (foudres) and old barrels, then the wine is aged using the solera system, in oak barrels of various capacities. This extremely prolonged oxidative aging, without harsh racking, allows for a gradual blending of many years, yielding a complex, concentrated white wine deeply marked by its time spent in wood.
This wine reveals notes of dried fruits, candied orange zest, dried flowers, sweet spices like cinnamon, nuts, and noble wood from the long solera aging, complemented by a saline and mineral touch. On the palate, the texture is ample and silky, supported by a lively acidity that balances the oxidative richness, with great aromatic persistence and a long, slightly saline finish.
Where are we traveling?
Rueda
It is located in the heart of the Castile and León plateau, in northwestern Spain, about a hundred kilometers south of Valladolid. The vineyard stretches over vast, stony, wind-swept plains on both sides of the Duero River, at an altitude of 600 to 800 meters. Rueda's viticultural history dates back to the 11th century, when Cistercian monks encouraged the planting of vines in the wake of the Reconquista. But it was in 1980 that the region obtained its Denominación de Origen status, becoming the first appellation in Castile and León, thanks in particular to the impetus of the Marquis de Riscal, who saw exceptional potential for white wines there. The climate is extremely continental, characterized by harsh winters, scorching summers, and significant temperature differences between day and night, which preserve the acidity and aromatic freshness of the grapes. Rueda has established itself as the great Spanish benchmark for white wine thanks to its emblematic grape variety, Verdejo, which produces lively, herbaceous, and subtly bitter wines with notes of anise and fennel, complemented by crisp Sauvignon Blancs and a few rare Viura cuvées, testaments to a terroir perfectly suited for elegant white wines.
The little history of the country
Spain
The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.