Bodegas La Val

Bodegas La Val, located in the incomparable Rías Baixas in the northwest of Spain, is much more than a winery. It is an incredible project, sincere and made up of a team of wonderful people who believe in what they do, and what they do they do very well. WORDS ÓSCAR GONZÁLEZ CALZADA

Each of those who form part of Bodegas La Val understands that the truth is the path that leads to freedom, that is, to success, and their wines, honest and frank, are the best demonstration of this.

Fernando Bandeira and Antonio Ruiloba masterfully lead a pioneering project of the Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin, and with their commitment to their own production, have managed to make a difference, letting nature do its work and being faithful to a mantra that they have engraved on fire, and which perfectly describes their oevre. ‘Wine is made in the vineyard.’

The young Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin has grown up, and its wines have become a world benchmark, placing its noblest variety, the Albariño grape, among the most coveted in the competitive market.

Bodegas La Val bears a large part of the responsibility for the success of this region. Present in more than twenty countries, La Val fulfills its mission of being a great ambassador among wines, having achieved this status in places as far afield as China and Guatemala.

The success of Bodegas La Val respects a secret that I can reveal to you. It is a firm commitment to achieving excellence and follow the maxim of ‘today better than yesterday’, in addition to having been able to make their magnificent wines wholeheartedly their own production, which allows them to control everything within the elaboration process.

Its facilities in Salvaterra de Miño, capital of Condado do Tea, are spectacular and from its tasting room, the views of its Finca Arantei do not need to be photographed, since that beautiful image will be permanently etched in the memory of the lucky visitor, reminding them of the privilege of enjoying one of the most beautiful landscapes they have ever seen.

Txema Ureta, the alchemist responsible for the technical part and for putting the icing on the cake created by nature, is a loyal man, and his character is reflected in each of the wines that Bodegas La Val produces.

The Rías Baixas is renowned for strong vintages, fully respecting the virtues of the grape variety, in combination with achieving that necessary point of acidity, which envelops each bottle with freshness and provides longevity to its white wines.

Among the treasures that we find in the range of wines produced by Bodegas La Val, allow me to highlight the youth of its Albariño monovarietal La Val, a fresh, citrusy wine with a very Atlantic accent, as well as the perfect coupage of its Más que 2, in which the Albariño variety pairs perfectly with Treixadura and Loureiro grapes to create an exquisite elixir with the historical and most representative varieties of the Condado do Tea subzone. ›

By the way, this wine and its original labelling are a tribute to women. Please permit me to dedicate a special mention to Ana Bandeira and Isabel López, two extraordinary women who are the light in this wonderful project. A toast to them!

Also, the wines matured in oak barrels have a prominent place. Their 2016 barrel fermented La Val is one of the best wines my connoisseur palate has experienced.

And of course, a gem: La Val on its lees. A wine which, by itself, would win any discussion about the evolution of an Albariño in the bottle. This marvel is only produced in years in which the harvest has been excellent and the production process lasts three years, in which the living lees of the new harvest are incorporated into the wine, which patiently awaits the optimal moment for its release.

Visiting Bodegas La Val is bathing in values. You enter as a customer and leave as a friend. They work every day to make a better world, and their solidarity vintage program is a living example of what it means to be a complete company. At Bodegas La Val, vineyards and values are cultivated and the best fruits are harvested to make lovers of good wine happy.

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