RUEDA 10 FACTS TO KNOW
Discover Castilla y León’s flagship white wine appellation with the Spanish Wine Academy
Having been granted DO status in 1980, Rueda has since become one of the go-to Spanish appellations for white wines. Nestled in a territory of great reds, it’s worth exploring what has shaped the region’s vocation, both historical and viticultural, for white wine production.
1. Location
Rueda is located in the heart of Castilla y Léon, east of Toro and south of the Duero river. It spans across 12,853 hectares.
2. Castilian paradox
Neighbouring the iconic appellations of Toro, Ribera del Duero and Cigales, known for their expressions of Tempranillo, Rueda stands as a stronghold of white wine production.
3. History
The hegemony of white wines in Rueda has deep historical roots. The legend says that when the area was reclaimed by the Spanish in the late 11th century, they found an unknown white variety planted by the Moors.
4. Topography and climate
The appellation sits at between 600 and 800 metres above sea level. The climate is continental with dry, hot summers, bitterly cold winters and a wide diurnal range. 2600 sun-hours per year facilitate
5. Soils
Rueda is famous for its gravelly soils, a result of alluvial deposits brought by the Duero river millions of years ago. The mineral-rich subsoil provides ideal aeration, drainage and easy root penetration to the vines. There are important limestone outcrops on the highest altitude sites.
6. Flagship grape
Verdejo, Rueda’s star grape, accounts for more than 85% of all vineyard area in the region. Genetic research revealed its ancient origins and presence in Rueda.
7. Verdejo’s profile
The grape owes its name to the green (‘verde’ in Spanish) hue of its berries, although it also describes the key aromas of the wines it produces, such as freshly cut grass, fennel and lime zest. It has medium acidity and a pleasant bitter twist in the finish.
8. Historical specialties
Although often overlooked, Rueda is home to two very special historical specialties: Rueda Dorado and Rueda Pálido. Both with a minimum abv of 15% and produced from Palomino and/or Verdejo, the styles differ in ageing processes: Dorado ages oxidatively for a minimum of two years, while Pálido ages under flor for three or more years.
9. Modern styles
In 2020 the appellation introduced new styles and categories: Rueda Espumoso, Verdejo and/or Sauvignon Blanc sparkling wines, Vino de Pueblo, a ‘Village’ category, and Gran Vino de Rueda, for wines made from vineyards with a minimum age of 30 years and a maximum yield of 6200 kg/ha.
10. Novel approaches
Although the region is mostly famous for its steel fermented, aromatic Verdejos, different expressions of the grape are being explored. In 2016, Rámon Bilbao released the first vintage of its Edición Limitada Lías, a concrete-fermented Verdejo aged for eight months in French and Hungarian oak with regular batonnage.