Bodegas Verum is a organic winery in the town of Tomelloso (Ciudad Real province) in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It is now run by Elias Lopez Montero. His father was the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in the region, along with the local grapes like Cencibel (Tempranillo) for reds and Airén for whites. Elias improved quality by selecting his best plots of (ungrafted) Airen and Tempranillo and vinified them apart. He also began rescuing old vine, indigenous varieties such as Tinto Velasco, and introduced other varieties into the region like Graciano and Malvasia (for its acidity) and ability to retain aromatics in La Mancha’s harsh climate.
The origins of the López-Montero family in wine-making and distilling date back to 1788. This was when the first of their wineries in Tomelloso was registered, as detailed in records held at the local archives of the town. In 1963 Juan Antonio López Ramírez and María Victoria Montero established Altosa, a winery and distillery that continues to make and market wines and distilled spirits. Already in 2005 María Victoria, with her daughter, María Belén, and her sons, Juan Antonio, Pedro José and Elías, created Bodegas y Viñedos Verum. The brand encompasses the wines of the López-Montero family from the best vineyards and terroirs in their property.
Staff: Contact Ana Ruiz (met at Mill Bio 2017). Speaks English.
Organic certification: 2013 First vintage with full organic certification.
Vineyards: Verum winery and vineyards are located in Tomelloso, a town in La Mancha. Tomelloso is located in the Castilian plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, at an altitude of 650 metres. Its climate, with rainfall not exceeding 250 mm per square meter per year and abundant sunshine, together with its calcareous soil, makes it an ideal place to cultivate grapevines.
The vineyards owned by the López-Montero family spread across 250 hectares of land of which about 65ha are vineyards across four estates:
Casa Ramiro | 8ha (2017). The sandy-loam soil of this estate grows mainly foreign white grape varieties, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer.
Los Arcángeles: 20ha (2017). Shallow, calcareous soils. This estate mainly cultivates foreign varieties, namely Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot and Gewürztraminer.
Las Tinadas: 12ha (2017). Here mainly indigenous varieties are planted, such as Tempranillo and Airén with traditional cup-shape vine training.
El Romeral: 25ha (2017). This estate focuses on recovering regional and minority grape varieties.
Main grapes: Tempranillo and Airén, as well as various foreign red and white grape varieties.
Sparkling wines
Vinos de la Tierra Castilla, Gran Cueva: From Los Arcángeles. Traditionally fermented brut nature after a second bottle fermentation. 100% Chardonnay. Disgorged after 34 months
White wines
Vinos de la Tierra Castilla, Malvasía: 100% Malvasía (aromatico) grown for the first time in Castilla La Mancha by Bodegas y Viñedos Verum (they think). Single Vineyard from El Romeral. Unoaked.
Verum Terra Airén: From their oldest vineyard, Las Tinadas, planted from 1950. Ungrafted. Gobelet. Dry farmed. | 2016 Good pear drop at M Bio 2017.
Verum Sauvignon Blanc-Gewurztraminer | Vino de la Tierra Castilla. Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer from Casa Ramiro and Los Arcángeles.
Cuvée 1222, Vino de la Tierra Castilla | Sauvignon Blanc from Casa Ramiro, whose poor, shallow soil has a very high limestone content. This wine ages in Roc Cuve® barriques for four months. The daily batonnage of its lees brings about intensified aromas and fullness in the mouth. “Cuvée 1222” refers to the number of bottles produced in the first vintage of this singular wine.
Pink wines
Rosado, Verum | Vino de la Tierra Castilla. Cabernet France from Casa Ramiro y Los Arcángeles.
Red wines
Verum: Vino de la Tierra Castilla. A blend of Tempranillo, CS and Merlot from Los Arcángeles. Ages in French oak barriques of 340 liters for 12 months. | 2013 Nice chewy bright fruit at M Bio 2017.
Verum Roble: Vino de la Tierra Castilla. Tempranillo, CS & Merlot from Los Arcángeles. 6 months in French barrels. | 2013 Bit of funk at M Bio 2017.
Verum Reserva Familiar: Vino de la Tierra Castilla. High altitude Tempranillo. This is a single vineyard wine, elaborated with our oldest Tempranillo vine. In fact, the vineyard is 55 years old, with cup-shape training, and is located on dry land with stony, deep soil. In French barriques of 340 and 270 liters for 18 months.
Merlot, Vendemmia Seleccionada: Vino de la Tierra Castilla. From Las Tinadas. Dry farmed (very rare in the region). Less than 2 kg per vine. 2,000 bottles. Fermentation in cubic Roc Cuvee barriques of 340 liters with constant cap immersion to ensure continuous skin contact. Aged in 340 litre barriques for 24 months.
Contact
Bodegas y Viñedos Verum
Ctra. Argamasilla de Alba, s/n
13700 Tomelloso (Ciudad Real), Spain
Tel+34 926 511 404 | Website: www.bodegasverum.com
Bibliography
’10 Young Guns’ by Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW in Decanter March 2018 p.46.