# Mantel Blanco Verdejo (2025)

- **Producer:** Bodegas Álvarez y Díez
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Verdejo
- **Region:** Castilla y León, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €10
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, lime, mango, orange, blossom, grass, fennel, mint, cream

## About this wine

Bodegas Álvarez y Díez was established in 1941 by Modesto Álvarez Romero and Eladio Díez Ossorio in Nava del Rey, making it one of the historic benchmark estates in the Rueda appellation. Managing Director Juan de Benito and winemaker Pilar García manage 100 hectares of high-elevation vineyards in the Duero River basin. The winery preserves a 16th-century underground cave 15 meters below ground, originally used for storing tithe wines.

## Interesting facts

- Houses a historic 16th-century underground cave 15 meters deep once used for church tithe collections.
- Harvested entirely at night to protect delicate grape aromatics from high daytime temperatures.
- Vineyards are situated at over 750 meters elevation on stony riverbed soils locally called cascajosa.

## Food pairing

Vibrant acidity and pronounced herbal freshness slice through the rich texture of seafood, while complementing aromatic herb-driven preparations like pesto and lighter curry dishes.

## Wine making process

Grapes are sourced from estate vineyards at 750 to 770 meters elevation on deep alluvial soils covered with surface pebbles. Harvest is carried out 100% by machine at night to retain cool temperature and prevent oxidation. Grapes undergo overnight cold skin-contact maceration prior to gentle pressing and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks below 17°C using selected yeasts, followed by aging on fine lees in stainless steel before bottling.