At the heart of Seca, a small town in Castilla y Leon, different generations of the Cantalapiedra family have worked passionately, crafting wine. Nearly 21 hectares of vines aged around 30 years grow in the birthplace of the Verdejo variety. The soils are mainly composed of gravel but there are also some clay, sand, and limestone spots too. The region’s terroir is defined by its distinctive mantle of pebbles, which plays a crucial role in shaping the character of the Verdejo grape. Aware of today’s environmental issues and committed to offering authentic cuvées that reflect the purest expression of the terroir, the estate adheres to strict biodynamic principles and is certified organic. After the grapes are harvested entirely by hand, vinification takes place with as little intervention as possible to conserve their excellent quality. Fermentation is started by natural yeasts and minimum sulphur is added.

Manuel and Isaac Cantalapedria offer remarkable single-vineyard expressions that eloquently reflect the unique terroir and grape varieties of Rueda, where their family has been established for several generations. El Parvon showcases Tinta de Toro (the local name for Tempranillo), a fine Spanish grape variety planted at an altitude of 750 metres, where the old vines survived the phylloxera outbreak. While almost nothing prevents this destructive pest from attacking vines, it definitely does not thrive in sandy soils, which is why these non-grafted vines have endured for nearly 150 years. In this cuvée, the grapes are combined with 10% white varieties – a blend of Verdejo, Malvasia, Moscatel, and Palomino. Once the grapes are destemmed, they ferment in open-top vats for about 15 days. After pressing, the wine is transferred to French oak foudres (large tuns) for 24 months of ageing, before being bottled without fining or filtration. A rare wine, with only 650 bottles produced, El Parvon enchants with its bouquet of small red and black berries, complemented by floral notes, and its elegant, rich palate, culminating in a delightful, lingering finish.