In the North of Spain, Rioja is undeniably the most famous Spanish wine region, with a global reputation of trust and quality built over 2000 years of winemaking.

In 1973, a group of friends, united by their love of gastronomy, had a mission to create great wines to complement their culinary creations. The result was Bodegas Beronia. Their flagship winery is in La Rioja, Spain, with a second winery solely dedicated to the production of Verdejo located in Rueda.

2023 Beronia Rueda ($13.99)

This wine is produced from 100% Verdujo grapes that were harvested at night to maintain the fruit's freshness and prevent grape oxidation. The pressing was done gently in an inert atmosphere to minimize browning in the must. Fermentation took place for 10-15 days, using stainless steel tank and concrete tanks. After aging on lees for a period of 2 to 3 months, the wine was clarified and filtered before being bottled.

This Beronia Rueda is pale yellow in color with greenish hues. On the nose it has aromas of citrus, with hints of white fruit, fresh herbs. On the palate, it is bright and fresh just a hint of bitterness at the finish. [ABV: 13%, Acidity: 6.0 g/L, pH:3.25, RS: <2 g/L]

2020 Beronia Crianza ($14.99)

This Beronia Crianza (“kree-ahn-tha”) was made from 95% Tempranillo, 4% Garnacha and 1% Mazuelo grapes (a.k.a. Carignan). The fruit was macerated for a few days prior to fermentation, before entering temperature controlled alcoholic fermentation with regular pumping over to extract the desired color and aromas. The wine aged for 12 months in barrels made of American oak staves and French oak ends. After bottling, the wine was left to rest for three months prior to release.

This Beronia Crianza is medium ruby in color and has nice aromatics including red fruits (cherry and raspberry) and herbal notes. On the palate it has big red fruit flavors, medium tannin and a really nice lingering finish with a bit of crisp acidity. [ABV: 13.5%, Acidity: 5.8 g/L, pH: 3.60, RS: 1.7 g/L]

These two wines from the Gonzalez Byass USA portfolio are perfect for summer sipping or anytime of the year sipping! And, the price points of these wines are amazing for the quality and level. That make them a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Gonzalez Byass