MonterreiQuinta da Muradellawww.oleimports.comPage 16 February 2013
MonterreiQuinta da MuradellaQuinta da Muradella (QDM), located in the in the town of Verín in the Monterrei DO, is a garage winery whereproprietor Jose Luis Mateo and <strong>Raul</strong> <strong>Perez</strong> make small production wines from 34 unique parcels (all of them certifiedOrganic by CRAEGA (Cjo. Regulador de Agricultura Ecológica de Galicia)). The mission of QDM is to showcase thetipicity of each of the 3 different districts of this appellation (Tamaguelos, Oimbra and Pazos de Monterrei) but also tomake wines that relate to the different historic periods this region has undergone since the 1800’s. Since then,Monterrei has seen three faces of history in terms of varieties used for vinification. The wines made today by the localwineries no longer speak the language of the past. Due to this lost of identity, Jose Luis Mateo and <strong>Raul</strong> <strong>Perez</strong> felt themission to recover and capture lost varieties and genetic materials facing extinction to fashion wines that once existed.In a certain way, this winery is like a liquid book of history. All the vineyards of QDM are certified organic byCRAEGA (Cjo. Regulador de Agricultura Ecológica de Galicia).To follow the three historic periods this region has undergone:1) The first period dates from 1870 to 1920; vineyards were tended on steep sloped, high elevation parcels using head prunedtrellis systems. The red varieties of this period are: Mencía, Bastardo, Zamarrica, Albarello (aka Brancellao), Verdello Tinto andTinto Serodio; the white varieties are: Torrontes, Godello (aka Verdello) and Dona Blanca. The wines made by QDM to illustratethis Historic period are: A Trabe, Mallada Do Xordo and Castrillol (all single vineyard wines). These vines are 100 years old onaverage. In addition to the single vineyards wines we also find micro-vinifications of mono-varietals from different parcels suchas: QDM Bastardo, QDM Sousón, QDM Albarello.2) The second period, from 1940 to 1960 is marked by the poverty and hunger caused by the Spanish civil war. The goal in thisperiod was to plant grapes that make wine but also provide nourishment. From high elevation vineyards with steep slopes (in thefirst period) the region transitions to flatter and lower elevation parcels that are richer in nutrients and water. High yields duringthis period were the goal. This period was also marked by the creation of many cooperatives which had a negative impact onquality. The red varieties vinified during this period were: Mencía, Garnacha Tintorera, Grao Negro and Bastardo; the whites of:Dona Blanca and Monstruosa. The wine made to illustrate this historic period by QDM is: Finca Notario (single Vineyard). Thesevines are 70 year old on average.3) The third period dates from 1980 to present time (2010). This period is marked by the European subsidies and theimplementation of technology both in the vineyard and the winery. During this period, Monterrei transitions from head prunedtrellises to double cordon and triple wired trellis system. In 1994 the region of Monterrei acquires DO status. The red varieties ofthis period are: Mencía, Bastardo and Tempranillo (aka Arauxa). The whites are: Treixadura, Dona Blanca and Godello (akaVerdello). The wines made to illustrate this period are the variety of Alanda (blend of parcels) and Gorvia (single Vineyard) wines.These vines are 15 years old on average.In addition to making wines that showcase each historic period, Jose Luis and <strong>Raul</strong> <strong>Perez</strong> are also producing a set of single varietalwines from vines that date back to the pre-Phyloxera era (prior to 1876). In this category we find micro-vinifications of varietiessuch as Albarello (aka Brancellao), Sousón, Bastardo, Zamarrica, Bastardo Rubio and Caiño.Monterrei is a valley split from north to south by the Tamega river which joins the Douro river on the south over thePortuguese border. There are 3 subzones in Monterrei: Tamaguelos, located on the south near Portugal over the eastside of the Tamega river. The soil profile here is quite diverse; mostly young plantings, all in double cordon trellissystem at 390 m to 460 m elevation (1280 ft to 1,509 ft). 60% is red varieties and 40% white. The Oimbra subzone islocated at 420 m elevation (1,378 ft) in the center of the appellation on the west side of the river. The Soil is composedof granite and decomposed granite sand. The vineyards are all tended in head pruned trellis systems and are 60 to 70year old vines. These vines were planted during the second historic period of Monterrei. All varieties here are red. ThePazos de Monterrei subzone is located at 460 m elevation (1,500 ft) on the north part of the region on the western sideof the river. The Soil ilis composed of fClay, gravel and quartz. Young vines are tended din double cordon systems and oldvines are head pruned.The Clime: Atlantic with a continental influence. Note that Monterrei is one of the Galician appellations furthest fromthe Atlantic ocean. As an average, we find 23 inches of yearly rainfall, whereas closer to the water in Rias Baixas wefind rainfall levels up to 93 inches.www.oleimports.comPage 17 February 2013