F. Algueira : Dolio 2022

The richness and structure of a Spanish red wine from Ribeira Sacra

The estate
Founded in 1996, F. Algueira is the result of a project to restore abandoned terraces, initiated in the late 1970s. Located in Galicia, at the heart of the Ribeira Sacra appellation, this estate today spans around 30 hectares of vines. It is currently run by its founders, Fernando González Riveiro and Ana Delia Pérez Somoza, now joined by their son Fabio González. A true benchmark of heroic viticulture, this brand stands out for its exclusive commitment to native varieties and its determination to preserve a spectacular, historic winegrowing landscape.

The vineyard
The grapes for this cuvée come from a 3.7-hectare estate located in Ribeira Sacra, more precisely in the Amandi and Riberas del Sil sub-regions, in the villages of Carballocobo and Abeleda. The vines, no more than forty years old, are planted on terraces with extremely steep slopes, at altitudes ranging from 200 to 600 metres. Facing south, south-east and east, this terroir enjoys a Mediterranean and continental climate with Atlantic influences. The soils are made up of slate, schist, granite, quartz and gneiss. The vines are trained using simple Guyot pruning, with no irrigation whatsoever.

Winemaking and ageing
The grapes for the 2022 Dolio were harvested entirely by hand in September 2022. In the cellar, fermentation takes place with whole clusters, using exclusively indigenous yeasts. The grapes are foot-trodden in open French oak vats and undergo cold maceration. Fermentation continues with the stems in 500-litre French oak barrels. This Spanish wine is then aged for 21 months, split between 225-litre French oak barrels and a 2,000-litre French oak foudre.

Grape varieties
This 2022 Dolio from F. Algueira is a blend of 62% Mencía, 20% Merenzao and 18% Caíño.