wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Even though sparkling wine and even red wine made from Tempranillo are now permitted, the DO Rueda, introduced in 1980, is primarily considered an appellation for Spain's best-known white wines. The main variety here is Verdejo, which occupies the vast majority of the vineyard area. If Verdejo is on the label, the wine must consist of at least 85% of the variety, but it can also contain small amounts of Viura (Macabeo), Palomino or Sauvignon Blanc. Originally, all Ruedas consisted mainly of Verdejo, but now Sauvignon-dominated wines or even pure Sauvignons are also permitted.

Good Rueda can be surprisingly fresh, cool and lively. The reason for this is the altitude - the vineyards lie at around 600 to 800 metres above sea level - and the associated weather conditions. The winters are long, the summers hot and dry, but especially in autumn the nights quickly become cool, which has a favourable effect on aroma freshness and acidity stability. The best Verdejos are juicy, pear-fruity, moderately vegetal and often distinctly mineral. The majority tastes best young, but there are some top examples that can mature for several years, especially if they come from the small wooden barrel, which is ideally used very carefully here. The Sauvignons are usually much more vegetal, sometimes quite interesting and independent, but they hardly ever reach the best Sauvignons of other regions.

Good Rueda is mostly very affordable, many convincing wines can be had for considerably less than 10 euros. They can be wonderful thirst quenchers in summer, but can also be used as sophisticated food accompaniments in many ways. Especially with Mediterranean cuisine with lots of fish and vegetables, good Verdejos are often the first choice.

We tasted around 50 wines for this special. We present the best ones here and as PDF here. Links to all results with detailed descriptions as well as the producers you will get here.

2018 Rueda

2018 Rueda Verdejo

  • 87WP Ramón Bilbao
  • 87WP Martínsancho
  • 87WP Javier Sanz
  • 87WP Verderrubí
  • 87WP "de Alberto", Alberto Gutierrez
  • 87WP Veredal
  • 86WP "Jose Galo", Rueda Pérez
  • 86WP "Circe", Avelino Vegas
  • 86WP "Coat", Álvarez y Diez
  • 86WP "Eresma", El Soterraña
  • 86WP "erre de herrero", Herrero
  • 86WP "Vega-Reina", Marques de la Concordia
  • 86WP Tres Pilares
  • 86WP "monteSol", Vinos Sanz
  • 86WP "Martúe", Viñedos de Nieva
  • 86WP "reina decastilla", Reina de Castilla
  • 86WP "Trascampanas", Gótica
  • 85HP Dominio de la Granadilla
  • 85HP "Oro de Castilla", Hermanos de Villar
  • 85WP Viore
  • 85WP "Cuarenta Vendimias", Castellana
  • 85WP "12 Linajes", Garci Grande

2017 Rueda Verdejo

  • 89WP "Cuvée", Páramo de Valdecuevas
  • 88WP "Barrica", Yllera
  • 88WP "Dominio de la Abadesa", Ontañón

2016 Rueda Verdejo

  • 88WP "Fermentado en Barrica", Antaño
  • 87WP "Oro de Castilla Finca los Hornos", Hermanos de Villar

2018 Rueda Sauvignon

  • 87WP Jose Pariente
  • 86WP "Nekora", Diez Siglos de Verdejo
  • 86WP "Trascampanas", Gótica

2017 Rueda Sauvignon

  • 87WP "VS" Castelo de Medina
  • 87WP "Oro de Castilla",Hermanos de Villar

Related Magazine Articles

View All
More
More
More
More
More
More
More
More
More
More

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS