This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
At Bodegas Arzuaga, we’re convinced that many factors have an influence on making an excellent wine. While it’s true that the production processes in the winery play an essential role, the terroir and vineyard do as well, since only the best characteristics can yield the best results.
As for the soils in our vineyards in Ribera del Duero, you can find more than just one type: sand, clayey sand, clay… But the main characteristic, in particular, is the white, chalky soil that the roots of our vines dig down into. As Javier Bañales notes, this will make our wines finer, much subtler and more elegant. Part of the style we’ve been seeking to develop for nearly 30 years at Bodegas Arzuaga.
‘In Ribera del Duero, we’re on Spain’s northern plateau. An area with an altitude between 750 and 911 metres above sea level that enjoys a Mediterranean climate with a continental influence,’ explains Bodegas Arzuaga’s sales manager and brand ambassador. This has a direct influence on the vineyard’s ripening cycle, which will be longer at higher altitudes, resulting in wines that are more balanced and have much more longevity.
We have exceptional orography and geography for vine-growing. In this area of Ribera del Duero, at Bodegas Arzuaga we have vineyards both near the course of the river as well as on the slopes, where large vines begin to appear. We were also pioneers in growing even higher, on the moors, where at the end of the 1980s we planted vines on the southern moor where our main estate, La Planta, is located.
As we were saying, there are different types of soil that form the basis of our estate. We have practically all the soils you can find in Ribera del Duero, from sandy areas, such as the first vineyard, La Maquinilla, to clayey soils and even pebbles. Within the Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin, the soils around Valladolid are generally more chalky, more white stone, while in Burgos they’re more concentrated and a bit more powerful. At Arzuaga, we have vineyards in both provinces, allowing us to select the parcels we’re going to dedicate to each wine according to the aims we want to achieve.
Ultimately, at Bodegas Arzuaga we like to make the most of all the possibilities that both the terroir and its altitude give us to imbue our wines a unique personality, following the style we’ve been committed to for years.