Connoisseurs go into raptures when they hear this name, which for some means legend, for others pure cult, but for many both at the same time. It is a name with a magical pull - Vega Sicilia! The wines with this unique signature are among the most sought-after in the world and are placed by experts in the very top rank on a par with icons such as Chateau Petrus, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti or Penfolds Grange. At the same time, Vega Sicilia is considered the best winery on the Iberian Peninsula. It all began over 150 years ago in a very unspectacular way with a farm inherited by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, where there was no talk of wine at the time. Inspired by the classification of Bordeaux in 1855, Don Eloy took a trip to Bordeaux and imported seedlings of the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec in 1864. Together with Tempranillo, he planted these vines in the harsh climate and barren soils of the Ribera del Duero, which proved to be a great success many years later. It turned out that he had already found the very best terroir in the region. Nevertheless, it was a gamble, because until well into the 20th century there were only a handful of wineries in the region that is so famous today. The winery passed through various hands over the decades, but the real success story began with the takeover of Vega Sicilia by the Alvarez family. And they knew only one thing, namely an absolutely uncompromising determination to achieve the highest quality. In addition to the magnificent terroir and the high level of winemaking skill invested in the wines here, there is something else that makes the wines of this Spanish monument unique and incomparable - it is the extremely long ageing period in the cellar. The "Unico Gran Reserva" matures for at least 10 years before it is released, but it can also be as long as 20. This also applies to the "Unico Gran Reserva Especial", a blend of usually three outstanding vintages. The date of release is noted on the label. It is no wonder that these two wines always scrape the highest possible points. But the "Valbuena", named after the bodega's home town, is also an extremely remarkable wine, made only from Tempranillo. The family also finds time to get involved with other wineries or even in other regions. Bodegas Alion is also one of the top wineries in the Ribera del Duero, Pintia sets benchmarks in the up-and-coming Toro region, and Oremus produces extremely remarkable Tokay wines! However, the star of Vega Sicilia shines above all, but unfortunately not too many will be able to enjoy this monument to Spanish wine culture, as the bottles are sold out extremely quickly due to their immense worldwide popularity.
