Vega Sicilia
Spain's 'First Growth'
Located in Ribera del Duero, Vega Sicilia was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who established the vineyards with cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec taken from the vineyards of Bordeaux. The estate planted Tempranillo alongside these Bordelais varietals, which now makes up the majority of the modern Vega Sicilia blend.
The flagship wines are Unico and Unico Reserva Especial - the former is aged for 10 years before release while the latter is a blend of only the finest vintages. Valbuena 5 is the estate's 'entry level' wine, a five year aged Tempranillo. Alongside Vega Sicilia, the same team also manage Bodegas Alion in Ribera del Duero and Bodegas Pintia in Toro.
