Valdespino, Aperitifs & Spirits, `Rare Spirits` Ron Viejo

Valdespino is one of the oldest Sherry bodegas in Jerez, with a history going back six centuries. Today, they own 750 hectares of vineyards in Jerez, a rarity in this region, allowing them close control over grape quality, resulting in some of the world's most revered Sherries. The bodega takes its name from Alfonso Valdespino, one of 24 knights who fought against the Arabs for the city of Jerez with King Alfonso X in 1264. As a reward for his efforts, he was given land that formed the basis of the bodega. Today, Valdespino belongs to the Estevez family, who purchased the bodega in 1999.

Named as 'Fortified Producer of the Year' by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2024, Valdespino are one of the very few bodegas currently producing single-vineyard Sherries. They are particularly renowned for their VOS (Very Old Sherry) with over 20 years of ageing and VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) with over 30 years of ageing. The Oloroso Solera 1842 VOS, for example, is produced from a solera that was established in the mid-19th century.

The Fino ‘Inocente’, from the Premium collection, is a single-vineyard Sherry made from Valdespino’s acclaimed ‘Marcharnudo Alto’ vineyard, which has been certified organic from the 2022 vintage. It is the only Fino Sherry currently fermented in oak barrels and boasts a solera system with ten ‘criaderas’ (the tiers of barrels), while most Fino Sherries have only three. Conversely, the ‘Single Cask’ Palo Cortado, also sourced from the ‘Macharnudo Alto’ vineyard, is a vintage sherry aged in just one cask and released with considerable bottle age. This unique Palo Cortado is defined by an array of flavours, including dried fruits, orange zest, hazelnuts and figs.

The ‘Macharnudo Alto’ vineyard is so admired for the quality of its fruit that Valdespino also makes a still wine from it. The ‘Viña Macharnudo Alto’ Palomino is made from grapes sourced from the highest point of the vineyard, which benefits from both the cooling influence of the Poniente wind and optimum sun exposure. Fermented in sherry barrels, the resulting wine displays a delicate white stone-fruit character supported by soft brioche notes.

Valdespino's 'Herencia' range is a collection of aperitifs developed by recovering old recipes and original labels from the early 20th century, using Very Old Oloroso Wines. The Vermouth ‘Herencia’ blends over 12-year-old Oloroso with Moscatel, from the renowned Promesa Solera, combined with extracts of mugwort, coriander, elderberry and gentian, chamomile flowers, aromatic cloves, cinnamon, dried Seville oranges and juniper berries. The final blend is aged in former Oloroso barrels. ‘Quina Herencia’ blends 12-year-old Oloroso Wines with Pedro Ximenez from the soleras of the PX ‘El Candado’, hydromacerated with Cinchona bark (Quina), gentian root, natural liquorice extract and nutmeg, along with a selection of dried citrus fruits.

The range is completed by two premium spirits: the ‘Solera Gran Reserva’ Brandy de Jerez and the ‘Ron Viejo’ rum. Valdespino began importing, and solera ageing, rare distillates in the 1900s. Many of these stayed tucked away in a corner of the bodega until 1999, when the Estevez family acquired the firm and rediscovered these treasures. Over decades, the rum solera has been topped up with selected Panama (70%) and Dominican Republic (30%) rums. On the nose, it beautifully blends complex notes of caramel, spice, sherry, and citrus. The Brandy de Jerez is a blend of the finest ‘holandas’ distillates, aged in the solera system for over 25 years. It is warm and complex on the palate with hints of candied orange, oak, honey and hazelnuts, with a very long finish.