When spring arrives, at Bodega del Abad we are aware that we are entering a period where colors, aromas, and even the air itself change. In El Bierzo, spring carves out a unique palette of colors. Fruit trees turn green and the vines sprout, sometimes coinciding with the blossoming of many trees.
When spring arrives, at Bodega del Abad we are aware that we are entering a period where colors, aromas, and even the air itself change. In El Bierzo, spring carves out a unique palette of colors. Fruit trees turn green and the vines sprout, sometimes coinciding with the blossoming of many trees.
This is precisely the moment when we at the winery begin to foresee the quality of the wines. If the vineyard has not been punished by adverse weather conditions, it follows its vegetative cycle naturally. The tilling and pruning have been taming the grapes that will culminate after the veraison, when maturation arrives, and upon which our Mencía reds and Godello whites will depend.
Furthermore, during the spring, another of the great miracles of the vine takes place. When the vine seemed to be dead after its winter dormancy, the sap begins to flow through its trunk once more, allowing for budding, flowering, and the appearance of small clusters wrapped in vine shoots. This is sap that we can physically see when the vine “weeps” through the pruning cuts—a magical phenomenon that we experience every year.
And this is something that everyone can enjoy, as the vineyard, in its state of freedom in the open air, hides its secrets from no one. The young and established vines are not fenced off or hidden in large warehouses. They live outdoors, in plain sight. In our case, the slopes of Valtuille are traversed by hikers, nature tourists, and pilgrims who wander through this incomparable setting daily.
Of course, spring is also an excellent time to taste the new vintage wines that have already reached the markets. Cheers!