Veronica Ortega

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Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Bierzo, Castilla y Leon, Spain
People: Verónica Ortega, Owner & Winemaker

Items

Veronica Ortega 2021 'Quite' Mencia, Bierzo Login WA 93

Although she is originally from Cadiz, Verónica Ortega's love for the Mencía grape brought her to Bierzo in northwestern Spain. Since then, she’s become a reference in the region and has blurred the lines between classic and natural Bierzo. She worked with Daphne Glorian and Alvaro Palacios in the Priorat, and did a quick stint at DRC in Burgundy, before ultimately settling in Valtuille de Abajo in 2012. Raúl Pérez was nice enough to offer her some space at his winery where she made her first couple vintages until moving into her own winery. Like everybody else in Bierzo, you could say Raúl had an influence in her winemaking but without a doubt she's made a name for herself recovering old winemaking traditions and redefining what Bierzo can be.

Working mostly between the towns of Valtuille and Cobrana, she's making DO classified wine while also making villages and single vineyard style wines. Most of her vines are over 70 years old accounting for 5 total hectares spread across more than 20 small parcels planted on a mix of clay, sand, and slate. Her grapes are a product of organic farming and her wines are made as naturally as possible only adding minimal doses of sulphur when needed to avoid deviations. You will find her wines are straight and polished while still having a natural edge that gives them the energy and life that set her apart.

Reviews

  • Veronica Ortega 2021 'Quite' Mencia, Bierzo
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93 (8/10/2023)

    The red 2021 Quite was produced with fruit from Valtuille de Abajo, from old vines, with the fine-boned, aerial and fresh profile of the 2021s that are more ethereal and vibrant. In 2021, she started to use some stems and some white grapes, which makes the wine even more fluid and vibrant. This is very elegant and fine-boned, quite ethereal within the Mencía on clay profile, with roundness and clout. It has a moderate 12% alcohol. She's looking forward to a longer élevage for this wine, which is now under one year in oak vat because she needs the vat for the following harvest, and she should be able to do that in the new winery.