The Winemaker Who Changed Everything for Mencía
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 Raúl Pérez
Spain’s diversity runs far deeper than the well-known powerhouses of Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Beyond those muscular Tempranillo wines lies a completely different expression of Spanish red—one that leans into elegance, perfume, and lift rather than sheer force. Head west into the green, mountainous corner of Castilla y León and climb into the hills of Bierzo, and you’ll find a grape that behaves like Pinot Noir with Iberian flair: Mencía. High-toned florals, crunchy red and black fruit, peppery spice, and an unmistakable mineral edge—this is one of Spain’s most captivating varieties, hiding in plain sight.
Bierzo is where Mencía reaches its most profound form, thanks to its patchwork of ancient vineyards perched across schist, slate, and quartzite slopes. |
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