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THE TEAM AT VALDEMONJAS –
THE MOYANO AGÜERA FAMILY
AND WINEMAKER LUCA D’ATTOMA
VALDEMONJAS,
THE ART OF TERROIR
Anfiteatro, Platea, Balcón, Gallinero – or amphitheatre, parterre, balcony and
gallery – are all names of vineyards at the Valdemonjas bodega. They refer to the
various parts of a theatre and are evocative of the winery’s vision of winegrowing.
More than just a farming activity, it is all about the art of showcasing a terroir.
“Wine and art are our two passions. We have never been able to consider them
separately”, admits Alexis Moyano Agüera, son of the bodega’s founder.
Although the estate itself was established in 2012, the Moyano Agüera family
actually started making wine in Ribera in 1998 when it planted its first vineyard,
Pago de Valdemonjas, whose seven hectares of Tempranillo vines are certified
organic. The vineyard is home to a range of soil types, inclines and aspects and
is divided into small blocks that are farmed separately. “Each one of them brings
us something special”, says Moyano Agüera. “The lowest blocks offer freshness,
vigour and fruit, whilst the highest ones provide elegance, power and ripeness”.
In 2009, the property was extended through the purchase of a small vineyard of
old vines – nearly one hundred years old – El Nogal de la Valera, which is also
farmed organically. “The wines from this site are powerful, elegant and long on
the palate and require virtually no intervention because the fruit improves from
one year to the next”.
Another landmark moment in the family’s winegrowing venture was when the
winery itself was built in 2015 at the Valdemonjas estate. Surrounded by vineyards,
it fits perfectly into its natural surroundings. Designed to reduce its impact on the
environment to a minimum, the eco-sustainable building received two awards at
the 2016 Architizer A+Awards. It allows the family and the team to produce 95% of
their own electricity and to harvest rainwater. Ultimately, the art of winegrowing
is not only about enhancing site-expressiveness but also “being capable of passing
the site on to future generations in a condition as good as or better than we found
it”. It’s certainly a project that is not for the faint-hearted!
AUTUMN 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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