Isaac Cantalapiedra

The artisanal winery Isaac Cantalapiedra constitutes a pleasant Castilian oenological novelty in the province of Valladolid, Spain. The bodega, located in La Seca, a municipality included in the Rueda wine-growing area, was officially founded in 2014 with Isaac Cantalapiedra and his son Manuel, the winery's winemaker, although its origins go back much further. In fact, it was Manuel's grandfather, Heliodoro, who planted the first rootstocks back in 1949. King of the area is Verdejo, a white grape variety that yields thick wines endowed with remarkable longevity. Today Isaac and Manuel cultivate 20 hectares of vineyards with the same dedication and passion passed on to them by Heliodoro, producing wine from only 7 of them, with the rest of the grapes destined for sale as was the case for the entire production prior to 2014.

The Cantalapiedras grow vines between 10 and 40 years old, raised under a certified organic system supplemented by biodynamic farming practices. These benefit from soils particularly rich in sand, gravel and limestone, as well as the warm, dry climate. The ampelographic platform revolves around Verdejo, but Tempranillo is also grown. Only when the grapes have reached perfect ripeness are they harvested by hand, which is why Isaac and Manuel are often among the last producers in the area to harvest. The same artisanal and painstaking approach is implemented in the winery, with few targeted interventions. According to this production spirit, fermentations are conducted exclusively by indigenous yeasts and any use of oenological additives is excluded, except for minimal amounts of sulfur dioxide. Subsequent aging periods take place in steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the wine in question.

Verdejo's extensive offering includes the entry level 'Cantayano' and the fine 'Majuelo del Chiviritero' and 'Mondo'. The selection also offers macerated whites and traditional oxidative-style wines made with the intervention of flor yeasts. All are authentic expressions of sublime workmanship that sincerely reflect Rueda's terroir.