Pago de los Abuelos

Appellation: Bierzo

Region: Castile-Léon

Country: Spain

Color: White

Varietal(s): Godello

About The Producer

Pago de los Abuelos is the personal project of renowned winemaker Nacho Alverez. With a deep love for the land that he inherited from his grandparents, Nacho is committed to preserving the work of his ancestors - his superheroes “les abuelos.” The 6-hectare estate, based in Spain’s Bierzo’s wine region, is planted to the indigenous varietals Estaladiña, Godello, Grencache, Mencia, and Palomino. Nacho’s grandparents, Floripes and Guillermo, first planted the Barreiros vineyard in 1890. In 2015 Nacho took over the vineyard. It took him two years to restore the vineyards by terracing the land, as well as pruning and replanting some of the original Godello and Mencia vines. Nacho’s first vintage from this property was 2018.

Terroir & Vineyard Practices:

This special Godello comes from the Barreieros vineyard that was planted by his grandparents Floripes and Guillermo in 1890. With a south orientation, the vines sit in slate soils at a 40% incline and take advantage of an Atlantic climate with Mediterranean influences. Cultivated and harvested by hand, practicing dry farming with no irrigation. No pesticides or herbicides are used.

Tasting Notes

A very special, small production Godello that comes from vineyards planted in 1890. The wine’s dynamism is directly due to it expressing the old Godello clones. The yellow hue is bright and reflective. On the palate is fresh and lively, with stone fruit flavors and hints of citrus. It has a beautiful mouthfeel on the mid-palette and a wonderful finish. A wine that easily rivals top white burgundies. This is a wine that can easily age 10-20 years.

Vinification

The extreme incline of the slopes demands hand harvesting in boxes of 18 kilos. The grapes enjoy a 4 hour cold maceration, followed by static settling and fermentation in 600L French oak barrels. It is aged for on the lees for 8 months in 600L new French oak barrels and then bottled on the estate.