Veracruz is a wonderful line of Verdejo wines from the highly-regarded Alvarez y Diez winery in Nava del Ray, smack dab in the heart of the Rueda D.O. In 1941, Alvarez Romero and Eladio Diez Ossorio began this family estate, which is now known as one of the oldest bodegas in all of Rueda. Several decades of winemaking and grape-growing later, the winery has a few incredible old plots of Verdejo to draw upon for their flagship line of wines. Enrique Juan de Benito and his sons have taken what has always been, and created an estate of modern and advanced equipment, mixed with earth conscious practices, to create their family estate wines. In the heat of Rueda in the summer time, traditionally the bodegas were all deep underground, and the old town church named Ermita Veracruz sits atop of the Benito family's now museum-like cellar beneath the city. Still in use occasionally for excess wine storage and historic tours, this underground fortress is nothing short of spectacular. And, in typical Spanish stork fashion, there sits a giant stork's nest atop of the church's steeple year round, where the labels of Veracruz wines receive their clever motif.
bento verdejo organico
100% verdejo Alvarez y Diez Bento Verdejo Organico is a small production Verdejo coming from the heart of the Rueda DO, utilizing the certified organic vineyards of the estate. A fresh and bright example of this lively grape, having been fermented in stainless steel and released to the market in the spring after harvest. Juicy acidity gives way to slightly herbal and floral tones found in the grape, with a tasty finish that begs for greens, fish, or even fatty lamb. 
labyrintvs petra
100% verdejo The newest and smallest addition to the wines of Alvarez y Diez is the Labyrinthvs Verdejo, a tiny production of Verdejo fruit that was made as naturally as possible in the old underground cellar of the estate. In the ‘Labyrinth’ that lies beneath the old church Ermita Veracruz, several old concrete vessels fill one of the (countless) rooms. It is here that this wine filled only one tank after harvest and an immediate pressing, and sat there to ferment naturally with the yeasts of generations. After six months, the wine was pulled out and moved to the winery’s current cellar, and aged another 14 months in stainless steel. For the first and only time, a small amount of sulfites were used just before bottling, letting the final wine be as expressive as possible of the grape as well as the historic place it was made. The aromatics are lively and expressive, with crushed wet stones, lime pith, green pineapple, and white flowers. The palate follows suit with loads of texture, caramel apple, green papaya, tropical fruits, and a lengthy complex finish that will pair with so many wonderful foods on a table. |
ermita veracruz verdejo
100% verdejo Ermita Veracruz Verdejo is produced in small quantities from low yielding 50-85 year old vines, in a delightful combination of the old and new. Crisp as can be, the nose is full of passion fruit, grapefruit, and pear, with complex herbal and mineral notes, a spot on representation of Verdejo at its best. The palate develops even further by showing a vibrant combination of pear, grapefruit, and mineral with balanced acidity and a long, enjoyable finish. The label image of the stork references the old underground cellar of the estate, which rests under the town’s church (called Ermita Veracruz), and one can see a giant stork’s nest on the very top with its year round residents. |
ermita veracruz verdejo 'fermentado en barrica'
100% verdejo The Ermita Veracruz Verdejo Fermentado en Barrica is a very small production special wine stemming from a very small production special wine. Alvarez y Diez utilizes their very best Verdejo vines (aging from 50-85 years old) to make the Ermita Veracruz, their flagship Verdejo. Small amounts of some of the greatest fruit is carved out to be lees-fermented in new French and American oak barrels, with daily battonage. After fermentation stops, the wine ages for 12 months in the oak before it rests another year in bottle. The resulting wine is stunning. A very full and expressive nose starts off with ripe tropical fruits, touches of sweet spice, and even hints of cocoa. It is unctuous on the palate with loads of fruit and spice, but also backed with excellent acidity as it shows off the purity of the fruit. A bit hedonistic, but a wine that can truly create a party of enthusiasts, where there was only a boring gathering before. |