Bodega Alvarez y Díez

Spain

alvarezydiez.com

One of Spain's most distinguished, world-class wine producer

Compared to the other wineries featured in this International Wine Club shipment, Bodega Alvarez y Díez is an old timer having been built in 1941. It rests in part of the Duero River Basin of Spain, and is mostly planted to the venerable Verdejo grape that traces its ancestry back to the 11th Century and the reign of King Alfonso VI. It is part of the Rueda Region that has been responsible for a great deal of renewed interest in Spanish wines and in particular wines from this specific area.

Brothers Alvaro and Juan de Benito are the second-generation owners of the winery and have devoted a great deal of their time to improving their dominant estate. A 1997 renovation installed new equipment and modern techniques and allowed Bodega Alvarez y Díez a new lease on life. All barrels are stored in ancient underground caves for perfect temperature control and the hilly, undulating vineyards allow for nearly ideal growing conditions.

Located in the town of Nava del Rey (King’s Plain), the winery is on the left side of the Duero River, Spain’s principal waterway for its grape-producing areas.

Each and every wine selected for our six different Wine Clubs meets our strict guidelines for quality and rating criteria. Each wine is handcrafted by an authentic, small-production boutique winery with a compelling story to tell like the one above. Since our first Gold Wine Club shipment in 1992, we have added five more impressive Wine Clubs to choose from—each a showcase for highly-rated, sought-after wines you can enjoy as a Gold Medal, wine of the month club member.

Map of the area

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Reading a Spanish Wine Label

In Spain, specific laws are in place to strictly control wine quality and ensure each wine’s origen, authenticity and style. The governmental Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador) classifies wine into three distinct categories: vino de mesa (table wine), vino de la tierra (regional wine), and vino de calidad (quality wine). Quality wines are further divided into Denominaciónes de Origen (DO) or Denominaciónes de Origen Cali cada (DOC). On the label, the winery must display the classification, quality level (gran reserve, reserva, crianza, or sin crianza), winery name, appellation of origin, vintage, and alcohol content.