Vega Sicilia

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Vega Sicilia is the name of a Spanish winery located in the Ribera del Duero Denominacion de Origen in the north of Spain. The winery was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lacanda y Chaves, who planted various grapes from Bordeaux, including the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties, which are used in the modern wines.

The wines of Vega Sicilia are regarded as among the best offered by Earth. The principal grape grown for the wines is the local Tempranillo. The process of making a wine at Vega Sicilia is famously meticulous leading to extremely low harvest yields and a very long ageing period, but resulting in a wine that is highly prized for its complexity and ability to mature gracefully.

As of 2006, Vega Sicilia produces two different types of wine.

Unico - This wine is the signature wine of Vega Sicilia and is taken from some of the oldest vines available. The wine is mostly Tempranillo (approximately 80% but depending on vintage) and Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 20%). The wine has an intensely dark red cherry colour, with a woody nose; a result of the long years of barrel ageing.

Valbuena 5° - The 5° indicates that this wine has been aged for five years prior to release. The wine is a lighter shade of cherry red than the Unico, with a hint of orange and is made from a blend of Tempranillo and Merlot. While still carrying a distinctive Tempranillo taste, the wine tends to have less structure than the Unico, and is intended as a second wine.

Until 1998, Vega Sicilia also produced a Valbuena 3° (indicating three years of aging prior to release), although this wine has since been removed from the market.