Enrique Valero absolutely loves his job. And who can blame him? As CEO of Abadía Retuerta Winery & Managing Director of LeDomaine, Enrique oversees an acclaimed winery, luxury hotel, spa, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Without a doubt, his job is demanding but Enrique absolutely glows when he describes the many wonders of the estate's 1730 acres in the heart of Spain's Duero Valley.
image courtesy of Abadía Retuerta
Not only committed to crafting exceptional wines, Abadía Retuerta also respects the tremendous cultural and architectural legacy of their estate. The property's luxury hotel, Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine, opened in 2012 after a meticulous restoration of the estate's 12th century medieval abbey. LeDomaine guests are surrounded by a compelling combination of traditional ambiance and modern amenities.
Spa Sommelier Service
image courtesy of Abadía Retuerta
For example, the abbey’s original dining hall, with a vaulted Gothic ceiling and a 17th-century fresco, is now a temple of haute cuisine and home to the estate's Michelin-starred restaurant, Refectorio. An old stable was elegantly transformed into the luxurious Santuario Wellness & Spa; where the innovative services include a Spa Sommelier that designs personalized treatments based on guest preferences in Abadiá Retuerta wines.
Refectorio Restaurant is housed in the abbey's original dining hall and has one Michelin star.
image courtesy of Abadía Retuerta
Devotion to the vine and winemaking is an integral part of this land's history and Abadía Retuerta follows in the footsteps of the medieval monks that preceded them. Their philosophy is based on winemaking by plot because the composition of the soil of each of Abadía Retuerta's 54 plots is different. From clay to gravel, sand to limestone, each plot is planted with only one grape variety, which has been carefully selected to extract the best qualities of the terroir.
image courtesy of Abadía Retuerta
Even if a trip to Spain is not in your immediate future, you can experience a bit of the magic of Abadía Retuerta with one of their beautifully made wines.
Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial Sardon de Duero (around $29.99) is their best-known wine around the world and for very good reason! A blend of their best Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah grapes; it is a rich yet balanced vino with expressive fruit, herbal, and spice flavors. A beautiful introduction to the Abadía Retuerta style.
Tempranillo is considered by many to be Spain's most noble grape and Abadía Retuerta Pago Negralada Tempranillo (around $95) is a single vineyard wine that beautifully captures the unique qualities of its terroir. These Tempranillo vines are planted in deep gravel soils intermixed with sand at the surface and produce wines described as having a "distinctive firm, tannic character". This seductive vino is silky and smooth with a rich tapestry of flavors: strawberry, licorice, herbs, and minerals.
Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine Blanco de Guarda (around $40)
Hailing from a land of reds, this unique white wine has enough structure and complexity to age for years. Blanco de Guarda is Abadía Retuerta's first white wine and is quite impressive. Crafted from mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a kiss of Verdejo and other white varieties, it is an intriguing medley of flavors: citrus, floral, mineral, and spice. A substantial and textured wine that still retains crispness and freshness after several years. (I tasted the impressive 2012 but newer vintages are available.)
Click here to learn more about Abadía Retuerta, their full portfolio of wines, and how you can book your dream vacation at their luxury hotel.
