Something about Beronia has intrigued me ever since I started following them on Instagram almost four years ago. Their Instagram feed gave me the feeling that it was a Spanish Brand with a modern vibe but inspired by tradition. Those were my initial thoughts about their brand. Unfortunately, I didn’t try their wines until two years later. Now that I have reviewed them, I can confirm that The Beronia Style is unique, inspired by tradition but produced with extreme care.
Innovative Nature, Classic Tradition, and Perfect Craftmanship.
Matías Calleja, the winemaker and technical director of Beronia Wines, has developed the Beronia style for almost 40 years. Calleja is a perfectionist at heart, and he ensures that Beronia wines are an extension of his craftsmanship and care.
First, let me tell you about his modern approach to mixed barrels. Beronia pioneered the usage of mixed oak barrels, a combination of American oak staves and French oak ends. Besides being a unique approach, the marriage of the two results adds a unique blend of complex aromas and flavors. Usually, winemakers only use American Oak Barrels or French Oak Barrels but never both simultaneously. So when the Beronia team asked the cooper to make a barrel with two different kinds of wood, he said, “they were mad.”
American oak is widely used throughout Rioja. It is rigid and almost impermeable, but it imparts pronounced vanilla, coconut, and sweet spice flavors with a looser grain.
The grain of french oak is much more refined than its American counterpart and gives more subtle flavors and toasty, nutty characteristics. In addition, French oak contributes to the soft, silken tannins found in aged red wines.
Lengthy aging in mixed barrels
The wines of the Rioja region are renowned for their long barrel aging, resulting in smooth, complex, elegant wines. Under The Beronia Style, the wines are aged underground, under controlled ventilation, and the temperature and humidity are naturally cool and constant.
95% of Beronia wines are red. They develop and mature over extended periods in barrel and bottle. The barrels used are generally less than four years old. Young enough to help develop secondary flavors and aromas while still allowing the wine’s natural characteristics to develop. Before release, time spent in the bottle allows the wines to rest and evolve even further.
The Beronia Style: Committed to Sustainability
Beronia believes that the environment where vines grow determines the wine they produce. Therefore, they promote sustainable agriculture in every certified organic vineyards production stage. For Instance, the Organic Tempranillo vines use techniques inspired by those our forefathers used more than 2000 years ago.
Beronia wineries in La Rioja and Rueda aim to produce optimally and sustainably. Therefore, Beronia developed everything from the design and building materials to the technological innovations to promote maximum efficiency and minimal impact on the environment.
The Wines
BERONIA RESERVA 2017
Beronia Reserva is made from a selection of the best grapes Tempranillo 93%, Graciano 6% y Mazuelo: 1%. After a spell undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration and controlled fermentation with periodic pumping over to extract the desired color and aromas, the wine spent 18 months in mixed French and American oak barrels to create the unmistakable “Beronia Style.” Lastly, the wine was left to rest in the bottle for 18 months before being released to the market.
This Reserva has a bouquet of nutty aromas – roasted almonds, walnuts – followed by notes of plum, ripe fruit, and a pleasant hint of pepper. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine displays balanced acidity. The aromas are also present on the palate, while the finish is sweet and smooth, bringing cacao and roasted hazelnuts to mind. Beronia Reserva is a delicious wine to enjoy now or until 2029.
Pair this with roast meat, grilled cutlets, cured Ibérico meats, and mature cheese. Vegan Friendly.
GRAN RESERVA 2013
Beronia Gran Reserva 2013 is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano, and 1% Mazuelo grapes that were cold macerated for several days before fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation occurred next, at between 26 and 28ºC, with periodic pumping. Lastly, Beronia Gran Reserva 2013 spent 27 months in French oak barrels, completing its aging with a further 36 months in the bottle before release.
This Gran Reserva displays a vast array of aromas on the nose, from stewed ripe fruit to prunes and nuts such as walnuts. Subtle hints of tobacco and powdered cacao come with white pepper and balsamic notes that add freshness. In addition, it delivers distinct notes of fruit and nuts on the palate, which provide structure and tannin. The wine is long, very complex, balanced, and also sophisticated.
Pair this Spanish curated meats, sausages, NY Strip Steak, and Manchego Cheese.
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