08 Feb Graciano and Las Laderas de José Luis, the love for the family
In February, commercial shop windows, social networks and TV ads remind us -or rather force us- to show our love to the person with whom we share life, pets, children, mortgage… However, Valentine’s Day goes far beyond romantic love and should be celebrated for what it is: a manifestation of affection towards our loved ones, friends and family. At Bodegas Dominio de Berzal we don’t want to stop celebrating this special date either, but we are going to do it with two wines that, for us, are everything. We are talking about Graciano, a tribute to our mother, Gloria, and Las Laderas de José Luis, to our father, who taught us everything and passed on to us his passion for this world.
A tribute to our dear mother, Gloria. “G” for Gloria, “G” for Graciano. We are particularly fond of our single varietal Graciano, a rare and singular grape with which we aim to make a different wine. As it is a demanding variety, the work in the vineyard is meticulous, but with perseverance, effort and hard work, excellent results can be achieved. With a lot of personality, character and a touch of “acidity”.
Selected harvest in our own vineyard. Fermentation in 500 litre French oak barrels with maceration for 5 days in cold. Malolactic fermentation in the same oak barrels. Aged for 8 months in 500 litre French oak barrels.
One day, our father said: “I have no money, but I am going to buy land”. The most coveted were those on the banks of the Ebro, the most productive. The first vineyard he bought could not have been more unique. One that nobody wanted. They called it ‘Las Escaleras’, because of its steep slopes, although our father always called it ‘Las Laderas’. It turned out, however, that its altitude and orientation were very good and the grapes that sprouted there were of very high quality. In time the Ministry of Agriculture eventually recognised ‘Las Laderas’ with the distinction of ‘Singular vineyard’ and that is where our ‘Las Laderas de José Luis’ was born.
If this Valentine’s Day you want to show your true love to the people who gave you life, took you by the hand in your first steps and taught you everything they knew, remember these two wines with history. Enter our online shop and place your order as soon as possible to make sure you can enjoy them on Valentine’s Day. And if you don’t make it in time, don’t worry, parents forgive everything.
Bodegas Dominio de Berzal is made up of three brothers -José Luis, Íñigo and Juan Mari Berzal- who come from a family whose winemaking origins date back to 1958. The Berzal family vineyards are located in Álava, on the banks of the river Ebro. Today it is the three brothers who are in charge of the legacy left to them by their father, José Luis Berzal. A winery with deep roots in tradition, but with an eye to the future.
Winery, wine and Berzal family are three concepts that would not be understood without each other. So much so that the eldest of the brothers, José Luis, was even born under a vine. Their wines are steeped in memories, family anecdotes and inherited emotions.