Not All Wines Are Created Equal

There is a lot more to wines than one realizes. The best wines are made in the vineyard, not in the winery. Our carefully curated selection focuses on terroir-driven wines through traditional farming methods. In addition, many of the wines found at La Vid are organic, biodynamic, or sustainable.

Weather and microclimates are essential for the maturation of the grapes leading up to the harvest. The growing season usually takes anywhere from 140 to 180 days after budding. Budding or Bud Break, as it is known, is the first phase of growth after dormancy in the vine’s seasonal cycle. After that, “shoots” start to emerge from these “buds,” which turn into leaves that lead to the flowering phase. It is these flowers that turn into berries. The small berries take about three months to develop to their full size. Veraison is the next step in the maturity of the grape. This biological event is quick and is essentially when the grapes go from green to their final color. Physiological maturity is the last stretch before harvest. During this part of the growing cycle, the grape is undergoing the final stages of development.

Spain’s oldest Denomination of Origin, DO and Spain’s first Qualified Denomination of Origin DOCa. Rioja is a prestigious wine region of Spain and globally recognized. The majority output is red; however, white, rosé and sparkling wines are also produced. Rioja is known for its aging practices, which they guarantee through their rigorous labeling requirements. Tempranillo, Garnacaha, Mazuelo, and Graciano are the red varietals of the region while Viura and Garnacha blanca are the most prominent white varietals.

Spain’s second DOCa. Specializing in blends based on Garnacha, Cariñena, and French varieties such as syrah and cabernet sauvignon. Renowned for their slate and quartz soils known in Catalan as “Llicorella.” Altitudes range from 985ft to 2,300ft above sea level. This region has built a reputation for its serious and long-lived wines.

A wine region in Galicia that primarily focuses on white wines from indigenous varieties, accounting for over 99% of the wine output. Fresh, clean, taste with citrus and stone fruit nuances. The region is subdivided into five subregions, each having its unique characteristics. Albariño is the star of the show here, followed by Godello and Loureiro and other local grapes.

Is a legendary wine-producing area with a history spanning almost 3,000 years. Located on the Strait of Gibraltar in Andalucia, Spain, the portal to Europe and North Africa. Complex, unique wines are made from a fractional blending system known as a “solera.”

This wine region sits on the banks of the Duero river and is at the northern end of the “Meseta,”; Spain’s expansive plateau. This wine region has come to prominence in the last 20 years and has built a reputation on serious, full-bodied reds with a unique structure allowing the wines for years to come.

white wine

Refers to the broader Vinho Regional Alentejo (Regional Wine) and the Alentejo DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) located within. The region spans south-central Portugal, which is made of gentle slopes and hills. A significant output is low acid and high alcohol, easy-drinking wines. The majority of wines are based on local varieties and a portion of international types.

Portuguese name for the Duero River. The denomination of origin is the same as for Port wines; however, for still table wines, the wines are referenced as Douro DOC to avoid confusion. Many grapes are allowed in this region. However, the three most important are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz.

This is a Portuguese DOC located in the northern area of Beira Alta, Central Portugal. It is the ancestral home of the Touriga Nacional Grape. Over 75% of wine production is focused on dry red wines, other wines from the region can be white, rosé, and sparkling. These wines of the area are in high demand because of better viticultural practices and limited quantities.

This DOC is known for young and fresh wines hence the name Verde meaning “green.” This wine region has a wet maritime climate reminiscent of its neighbors in Galicia to the north while they board Port/Douro Region to the southeast. Wines produced here are lovely wines that are pleasantly light and crisp with hints of stone fruits and usually bottled with a touch of effervescence. Alvarinho and Loureiro varieties are the leading varietals in the area.