| Region of production: | Jerez-Xérès-Sherry |
| Winery Location: | Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) |
| Year Established: | 1875 |
Vineyard Holdings
- Macharnudo Alto, Jerez
Top Wines Produced
- Fino Inocente
- Tío Diego Amontillado
- Manzanilla Deliciosa
- Cardenal Palo Cortado VORS
- Coliseo Amontillado VORS
- Su Majestad Oloroso VORS
- Niños Pedro Ximénez VORS
- Toneles Moscatel VORS
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
Many consider Valdespino to be one of the oldest houses in Jerez – the history of Valdespino dates back to the 13th century when the king rewarded Alfonso Valdespino for helping Spain fight the Moors. Despite this early history, winemaking activity was not officially recorded until 1430, and the modern-day name and winery was not registered under the family name until 1875. The house was family-owned until 1999, after years of gradual disinterest in Sherry lead to its purchase by Grupo Estevez. This sale proved to be a major turning point for the house and lifted them from years of slow decline. Grupo Estevez is now the largest landowner in Jerez and Valdespino’s sale coincided Eduardo Ojeda’s installment as the group’s Technical Director. Eduardo is credited for rehabilitating Valdespino and oversaw the two-year process of moving all of Valdespino’s very old soleras. The move was considered very risky at the time, but the historic buildings had fallen into disrepair and the soleras were painstakingly transferred to a modernized site on the edge of the city. Nonetheless, Grupo Estevez has worked to preserve all the old soleras’ history and continued their development. The house is best known for their flagship Inocente Fino and their Tío Diego Amontillado. Both wines are single-vineyard wines sourced from Macharnudo Alta. This prized vineyard is located at high altitude, planted on entirely albariza soils and is part of the Grandes Pagos de España.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Valdespino’s most famous wines Inocente Fino and Amontillado Tío Diego are both barrel fermented by indigenous yeasts. Both wines are then introduced into their own soleras – with a larger than average number of criaderas – where it spends an uncommon 10 years under flor. Tío Diego ages twelve years under flor followed by 5-6 years aging oxidatively. The house is known for their more elegant and concentrated style from the uncommonly long period spent under flor during biological aging.
Producer Website: Valdespino