Vega Sicilia Vintage Showcase
Vega Sicilia is one of the most famous wineries in Spain today. The winery got its start in 1848, when Toribio Lecanda, a Basque landowner, bought the estate from the Marquis of Valbuena.
His objective was,to grow crops and raise cattle.
But after he passed, his son Eloy Lecanda decided the land was better used to make wine.
The younger Lecanda soon brought back 18,000 young vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot from Bordeaux, France.
Oremus Winery in Hungary
He planted these alongside the local black grape, Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) to make brandy and spirits fine enough to win an award for quality at the Philadelphia Fair.
That lead to his becoming the official brandy supplier to the Royal Family of Spain.
In those days, fine award-winning brandy enjoyed by the Royal Family was a fast track to success in any venture.
Luckily for us wine lovers, that next venture was fine red wine, distinguished by carefully grown grapes and carefully matured wine.
Pairing Vega Sicilia Wine at Tasca Restaurant
In 1890, the winery was renamed Vega Sicilia when the Herrero family purchased the estate. The family dedicated itself to careful planting in the vineyard, and long maturation in the winery.
This high level of quality lead the estate winemaker to create two exceptional wines in 1915: Vega Sicilia and Valbuena. These wines experienced a complex maturation process, resulting in the wine’s ability to improve with age.
The mystique of Vega Sicilia helped it earn an exclusive cache that lasts to this day.
In 1982, the Alvarez family acquired Vega Sicilia.
Vega Sicila Vintages
Today I enjoyed the new vintages of several Vega Sicilia wines with Pablo Alvarez, Owner and CEO.
The aim of the lunch was to showcase the new vintages of wines from several of the Vega Sicilia estates.
Of special interest was the dry white wines served with the meal, both 100% Furmint from the Oremus estate in Hungary. They included the fresher Mandolas and the more savory, richer Petracs from a single vineyard.
Several exquisite red wines followed … the 2017 Pintia made from Tinto de Toro, the name of the Tempranillo grape in Spain.
Then from the Rioja estate, I enjoyed the “first wine” – the 2018 Macan Classico, and the “second wine” the 2017 Macan. Both elegant, age-worthy examples of this estate.
Other icon wines were served… the 2015 Pintia Tinto del Toro, followed by the Unico Reserva Especial 2012, mouth filling fruit with silky tannins.
The two Ribera del Duero wines, Alion 2019 and the Valbuena 2017, were absolute treasures. The dense black fruit and power of the mouthfeel contrasted with the satin tannins on the finish.
Vega Sicilia Wine Pairing
Beyond the excellent wines, the Spanish restaurant Tasca provided a never-ending menu of Spanish-focused dishes to suit each of the diverse wines, with a trio of last courses being different types and preparation of meat and duck.
When I think of the classic, four-hour lunch businesspeople had in top Spanish restaurants over the last two centuries to forge business relationships, I never thought I’d have the chance to experience it. Today I did.
