Castro Ventosa / Fam. Pérez Pereira
Castro Ventosa – a winery in the heart of the Bierzo wine-growing region. The Bierzo region comprises around 3,500 hectares of vineyards, 70 per cent of which are planted with vines aged between 40 and over 100 years. The native Mencía grape variety thrives in the sandy limestone soil.
In 1752, a member of the Pérez Pereira family acquired 54 hectares of land in Valtuille de Abajo. The family has been dedicated to winegrowing there for four generations and is now one of the most prominent names in the Bierzo region. The historic Castro Ventosa winery cultivates some of the area’s finest vineyards, focusing on the indigenous Mencía grape variety, which thrives in the ideal conditions found here.
Red wines from Castro Ventosa / Fam. Pérez Pereira
from Castro Ventosa / Fam. Pérez Pereira
Álvaro Palacios played an important role in the winery’s recent history. Before this now world-renowned winemaker launched his own projects in Bierzo (now in partnership with his nephew Ricardo Pérez Palacios), he worked as a ‘flying winemaker’ at Castro Ventosa, where he deepened his knowledge of the Mencía grape and the region’s distinctive terroirs. Later, through his own wines, he made a significant contribution to raising the international profile of Bierzo.
Thanks to the Pérez Pereira family’s many years of experience and their deep connection to the historic vineyards, Castro Ventosa produces characterful Mencía wines of the highest quality. El Valtuille and El Castro de Valtuille, in particular, are regarded as impressive ambassadors for the region and are among the finest expressions of this fascinating grape variety. Incidentally, ‘El Valtuille’ translates as ‘Valley of Olive Oil’. The name refers to the numerous olive trees in the surrounding area, which have been cultivated for oil production for generations.
Producer
Luddite Wines / Fam. Verburg & Meyer
Niels Verburg is one of those people who you immediately want to befriend. With his imposing stature and beaming smile, he stands out and magically draws people in.
Karthäuserhof
The Karthäuserhof - The cradle of world-famous Rieslings, ever since 1335.
The Karthäuserhof is a magical spot. Not just because of its idyllic location but also because it is the eighth oldest winegrowing estate in the world and for centuries the cradle of world-famous Rieslings. It was founded in 1335 by Carthusian monks who received the estate as a gift from Prince-Elector Balduin of Luxembourg and operated it as a winery until secularisation. Since 1811 the Karthäuserhof has been owned by the same family, now in the seventh generation.
