Founding a winery in a hitherto unknown region with exciting but equally unknown grape varieties requires courage and a willingness to take risks, but Luna Beberide was 100% prepared to do so in 1987. Today, the unknown region of Bierzo, a small area of around 4500 hectares in the northwest of Spain near the border with Portugal, may still be considered an insider tip, but for many lovers of Spanish wines it has long since lost this status. The conditions for viticulture here are excellent. The rather warm continental climate meets cool Atlantic influences, sufficient rainfall is guaranteed and a mountain range rising up to 2,200 meters protects the region from excessively cold winds. The terroir of slate and calcareous clay soils is in no way inferior. The vineyards of Luna Beberide are located at up to 900 meters above sea level and are cultivated without the use of chemicals such as herbicides or fungicides. Healthy soil is the basis for the best wine quality, according to Luna Beberide's credo. Native grape varieties play a major role in Luna Beberide's work, which is why there is a clear focus on the white grape variety Godello and the red Mencia. However, a few hectares of his approximately 80 hectares of vineyards are also dedicated to experimentation, especially cool climate varieties such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Albarinho and Chardonnay, as well as red wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot. The red wines are allowed to mature in an old building from the 16th century, while the white wines have been given new premises. In the beginning, the project was supported by none other than Gregory Perez, who was responsible for the wines of the Bordeaux legend Chateau Cos d'Estournel. Today he is advised by his friend Mariano Garcia, congenial winemaker at Aalto and Bodega Mauro. Luna Beberide's wines are exciting, especially those made from indigenous grapes. They show freshness and excitement on the palate and impress not only with their original character, but also with their excellent price/performance ratio. So if many wine lovers are now looking for wines from Bierzo, it is certainly also because of Luna Beberide.
