Manuel Cantalapiedra "Lirondo" Verdejo, Castilla y Leon, Spain 2024

FROM JOSÉ PASTOR:

THE WINE: 100% Verdejo from organically farmed vines that are 12-35 years old. The vines are planted on sandy clay soil with abundant pebbles over marl and limestone. The wine is aged on the lees for ~6 months in stainless steel tanks and it is bottled without fining, filtering or sulfur addition.

THE PRODUCER: The Cantalapiedras descend from several generations of winegrowers working in the municipality of La Seca. This dusty town of 1,000 people, half an hour southwest of the industrial center of Valladolid, is considered to be the heart of the Rueda appellation, with a disproportionate number of well-known producers calling it home. Although there are records of the Cantalapiedras’ grape-growing dating to the 19th century, the birth of the current estate can be traced directly to the year 1949, when patriarch Heliodoro planted his first vineyard plot, or majuelo, at the tender age of 15. For many years, Heliodoro’s son Isaac worked alongside him, and together they built a 20 hectare domaine that is now certified organic. In the past they sold the bulk of their grape production to larger producers in the area. It is with the third generation – Helio has since passed away and Isaac’s son Manuel hasten charge – that the family has established a small cellar of their own, bottling their first vintage in 2014. Even from the first vintage, the high quality of fruit and the traditionalist approach set the Cantalapiedra wines apart amongst the masses of producers in Rueda. Since then, it has been thrilling to watch the evolution of the estate under winemaker Manuel Cantalapiedra.