Cantalapiedra Viticultores - Lirondo 2023

The Cantalapiedras descend from several generations of winegrowers working in the municipality of La Seca. This dusty town of 1,000 people, half an hour southwest of the industrial center of Valladolid, is considered to be the heart of the Rueda appellation, with a disproportionate number of well-known producers calling it home. Although there are records of the Cantalapiedras’ grape-growing dating to the 19th century, the birth of the current estate can be traced directly to the year 1949, when patriarch Heliodoro planted his first vineyard plot, or majuelo, at the tender age of 15. For many years, Heliodoro’s son Isaac worked alongside him, and together they built a 20 hectare domaine that is now certified organic. In the past they sold the bulk of their grape production to larger producers in the area. It is with the third generation – Helio has since passed away and Isaac’s son Manuel hasten charge – that the family has established a small cellar of their own, bottling their first vintage in 2014.

Even from the first vintage, the high quality of fruit and the traditionalist approach set the Cantalapiedra wines apart amongst the masses of producers in Rueda. Since then, it has been thrilling to watch the evolution of the estate under winemaker Manuel Cantalapiedra. Trained as a classical pianist, Manuel has brought an exacting and artistic approach to the Cantalapiedra cellar. Inspired by the potential of the Verdejo grape and the old vineyards that the family works with, he has focused on bottling of small parcels that highlight the unique heritage of Rueda and Toro. Simultaneously, Manuel has followed his own vision for Verdejo, Tempranillo, and Grenache in the area around La Seca. 

Working organically, with old parcels, and without irrigation, Manuel is able to harvest later than many of his neighbors while retaining vibrant acidity. In the cellar, Manuel utilizes wild yeasts for fermentation, minimal amounts of sulfur, and no other additions. The results are a range of singular expressions of Verdejo, starting with their entry-level unfiltered Lirondo.

Lirondo from their “Las Escuclillas” vineyard. Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and macerated 12 hours before gentle pressing. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel tank, spending 8 months on fine lees before bottling in June 2018 without any fining, filtration or added SO2.

Producer: Cantalapiedra Viticultores

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y León

Varietal: Verdejo

Appellation: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml