F. Algueira : Dolio 2022

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

The estate
Founded in 1996, F. Algueira grew out of a project to restore abandoned terraces that began in the late 1970s. Located in Galicia, in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra appellation, the property now covers around 30 hectares of vines. The estate is still run by its founders, Fernando González Riveiro and Ana Delia Pérez Somoza, who are now joined by their son Fabio González. A true benchmark of heroic viticulture, the house stands out for its exclusive commitment to indigenous varieties and its determination to preserve a spectacular historic vineyard landscape.

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

Winemaking and ageing
The Dolio 2022 was harvested entirely by hand in September 2022. In the cellar, the grapes are fermented as whole bunches using only indigenous yeasts. They are foot-trodden in open French oak vats and undergo cold maceration. Fermentation then continues with the stems in 500-litre French oak casks. This Spanish wine is subsequently aged for 21 months, divided between 225-litre French oak barrels and a 2,000-litre French oak foudre.

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