2021 Herrero Rueda "Erre"

For a brief stretch, before albariño became the star white wine of Spain, there seemed to be no stopping Rueda. Mass production, raced to meet demands, with increased plantings of sauvignon blanc to bulk up the less productive native variety verdejo. Inoculated yeast amplified the sauvignon-ness of the wines, leaving very little of the charm that once captured people's attention to this dusty corner of Castilian Spain. The Herrero family Bodega, now run by three brothers, seeks to recover what was lost about Rueda, firstly in repositioning verdejo in its rightful place in the foreground of the wine. Rather than bend to perceived international taste preferences, the Herreros let verdejo do its thing in the gravelly soils and continental climate that it loves. The result is a truly authentic Spanish white wine that will delight with just about any pairing: pinchos, jamon, salads, seafood, white meats, or just about anything grilled.