Not long ago, the esteemed wine critic Tim Atkin made his inaugural visit to Aragón. Regions such as the D.O. Somontano, nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees in northeastern Spain, left him pleasantly surprised, so much so that he was inspired to publish his Aragón Special Report. However, this was not the sole accolade, as during his visit, Atkin also took the opportunity to pay tribute to some key figures from this area, including José Ferrer, who was honoured as a Legendary Winemaker. From his vision and the hands of his team emerges Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales.
With over 30 years of experience, Ferrer has built a reputable career, overseeing both his own plots (515 hectares) and those of his collaborators, who also strive to achieve the highest quality. Across nearly a thousand parcels, the vines are cultivated organically using mechanical tillage, completely eliminating insecticides, and employing copper and sulphur. This is no easy feat, considering the extensive vineyard area, as the winery team must contend with a diverse range of soils (predominantly poor, stony, and rich in limestone and sandstone), altitudes (ranging from 350 to 450 metres), and climatic conditions (harsh, long winters and short, dry summers). Nonetheless, far from being a hindrance, this diversity also presents an advantage, allowing for the cultivation of a wide array of grape varieties, both red (tempranillo, garnacha, pinot noir, moristel, parraleta, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah) and white (chardonnay, macabeo, gewürztraminer, riesling, sauvignon blanc, garnacha blanca, alcañón). In the winery, each of these varieties is processed individually, preserving the profile and characteristics of each grape.
Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales is harvested at night, by hand, and swiftly transported to the highest part of the winery, situated in close proximity to the vineyards. At this point, where it reaches 12 metres, the finest clusters are selected, initiating a production process that relies entirely on gravity, thereby preserving the qualities of both the must and the grapes. After a gentle crushing and rapid cooling, Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales is left to macerate for a period before fermentation. The duration of this maceration depends on the time it takes for Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales to achieve the desired colour. Once this is attained, Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales is allowed to drain, yielding the free-run juice that will be transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Following several rackings, the final blend is crafted, and Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales is bottled.
With such a story, few wines can compare to Viñas del Vero Rosado Selección de Varietales, one of the finest ambassadors of the D.O. Somontano.