Valdespino

Jerez, Spain The origins of this historic bodega date back to 1264 when Don Alfonso Valdespino was one of 24 Knights responsible for expelling the Moors from Jerez. As a reward for his efforts the king gave him land grants in the city of Jerez and thus began Bodegas Valdespino. The heart of Valdespino is its vineyards. They are the only sherry house to make single vineyard wines. The vineyard, Macharnudo, is one of the “grand crus” of Jerez, located at the highest altitude and on pure Albariza soils (bright white chalk). The single vineyard wines are not only DO Jerez, but are also DO Pagos (vineyards that are an appellation onto themselves) – the only vineyard in Jerez to be a member of this elite status. Add to these amazing standings that all Valdespino wines are fermented in aged oak and allow nature to decide their destiny! Almost all the houses in Jerez do the fermentations in stainless steel and inoculate the Flor to decide the destiny of the wines. They are also one of a few estates that take the solera system to the extreme going way beyond DO minimum regulations for all the categories. As an example Fino sherry is required to have 2 criaderas (nursery levels of the solera) and the DO average tends to be 3 – Valdespino’s Fino Inocente has 10 Criaderas!