When we speak of harvest, we all understand it involves picking grapes from the vine, yet delving deeper reveals a captivating world filled with nuances. The harvest can be conducted mechanically or manually, and it can occur at various stages: when the grapes are green, very ripe, or at their optimal ripeness. Furthermore, one can choose to harvest all the grapes from the vine or select only the finest, always striving to achieve the highest quality in the wine. Yllera, a family of winemakers with five generations of expertise and one of the most prominent wine producers in the Castilian-Leonese region of Spain, masters this craft to perfection. So much so that they have named one of their wines Yllera Vendimia Seleccionada, in tribute to this meticulous process.
For the production of Yllera Vendimia Seleccionada, the finest grapes of tempranillo, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot are harvested. These grapes come from vineyards over 40 years old, cultivated traditionally and harvested manually in boxes with a double selection of grapes in the vineyard and at the winery. There, the best grapes are destemmed and fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks at a maximum temperature of 28°C. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine ages for over 22 months in American and French oak barrels, with racking to tanks for subsequent clarification and stabilization. Finally, it rests for at least 12 months in the bottle before being released to the market.
Yllera Vendimia Seleccionada stands out for its excellence and tradition. A wine of VT Castilla y León that reflects the dedication and care of a manual harvest, where only the best grapes are selected. The result is a wine of the utmost quality, from vine to glass.