Manuel Cantalapiedra "Majuelo del Chiviritero" Castilla y Leon, Spain 2022

FROM JOSÉ PASTOR:

THE WINE: 100% Verdejo from the 1.1ha namesake single parcel “El Chiviritero” planted in 1981. All grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and macerated for 24 hours before pressing. The juice is wild yeast fermented in used French barrels, raised on lees for 9 months, and bottled with a light filtration.

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.