Collection: Bierzo DO

Bierzo lies in northwestern Spain, in Castilla y León right up against the border with Galicia. Although the region politically belongs to Castilla y León, it is on the same wavelength as green Spain to the west, both climatically and culturally. Bierzo was established as a Denominación de Origen in 1989 and covers around 2,982 hectares of vineyards spread across approximately 2,400 growers and 77 wineries, most of which are small family farms that have often created their own brands on top of the local production.

The geography is part of what makes this place special. Bierzo lies isolated in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by mountains that rise to 2,000 metres, and the vineyards are found at altitudes between 500 and 850 metres. The region is divided into an upper and a lower zone, and the best wines typically come from the poor soils higher up. The subsoil contains quartzite, slate and alluvial minerals, and slate in particular appears frequently and is associated with high-quality wines. The great variation in soil and location means that the harvest can stretch over up to five weeks, while the climate alternates between a mild Galician character and the heat from the Duero and the interior of Castilla y León.

Mencía is the primary red grape and produces both red wines and rosado, while Godello is the most important white grape. You will also find Pinot Noir grown in the region, just as the old Palomino grape is still present, and a few Godello wines are aged in sherry casks. The region's wine history reaches far back and is linked to Roman mining, pilgrim routes and monasteries. Within the region lies Las Médulas, an impressive Roman gold mining area, and to the east Bierzo borders the wine region of Monterrei. In 2017 the regulatory board proposed a quality classification built around a single-vineyard hierarchy in the style of the Burgundian model.

At Copenhagen Wine we carry wines from Bierzo D.O. as part of our Spanish selection. It is a region that has historically exported under 28 percent of its production, so the wines from here are still a relatively overlooked Spanish gem worth getting to know.