 |  | Vi-Ve La Llave de los Sueños | Bodegas Valdelana Rioja Alavesa 2020 Rioja, Spain 14.5% ABV | Regular Price: $13 |  |
"Wine is not made but is born." This is the philosophy behind the historic Bodegas Valdelana in Rioja and the inspiration of Juan and Judit Valdelana — the 14th generation of the family to work at the estate — when they created VI-VE in 2018. For them, it is a tribute to all the winegrowers — most especially their grandfather, Isidoro — who, for years, have been working the land in Rioja Alavesa. VI-VE is an acronym that is on all the tractor plates in the region: VI for Vitoria (the capital of Basque Country) and VE (Vehículo Especial/Special Vehicle). It is also a play on words, since vive means lives in Spanish, and drinking the wine definitely makes you feel alive! From his first day working in the winery, Juan dreamed of making a humble, traditional village wine with minimal intervention, like those of his grandfather. VI-VE is the realization of that dream. To create this wine, Juan utilized the old-school technique of carbonic maceration: whole grape clusters are vinified together without destemming, crushing, pressing or additions of any sort. Of course, it helps that not only does Juan have the guidance of his esteemed father, Juan Jesús Valdelana, but also the inspiration from his grandfather, Isidoro! The result is a juicy, fruit-filled, little red wine that is light, bright and a perfect homage to the way previous generations crafted wines from the special terroir of Rioja Alavesa. |
| A History of Excellence  Bodegas Valdelana is located in Elciego, known as the noble birthplace of Rioja Álavesa wines. The 150-hectare estate sits between the Ebro River and the Sierra de Cantabria mountains. This location lends itself to such delicious fruit because their chalk and clay-laden vineyards face southeast, toward the cooling Ebro, which allows for optimum sun exposure and ensures perfect ripening of the grapes. The mountains offer protection from the gusting northerly winds.The Valdelana family has been tending these vines since well before the estate was founded in the late 19th century. Juan Jesús, thirteenth-generation owner and current winemaker, is one of the most innovative vignerons in all of Spain. He has worked tirelessly to transform the property not only into a first-class Rioja estate, but also a center of learning. Juan has established a museum showcasing the history of winemaking, which includes a journey through all the senses involved in wine tasting. Today, his children, Juan and Judit, are the 14th generation of the family to work at the winery, ensuring the continued legacy, traditions and values of Bodegas Valdelana. |
The Key of Dreams  On a childhood trip to a winery in France, Juan and Judit heard a winemaker refer to a corkscrew as "the key of dreams." The saying made such an impression on the siblings that when they started the VI-VE project, they decided to use it as the slogan for their wines: La Llave de los Sueños. VI-VE is a blend of 93% Tempranillo and 7% Viura made using carbonic maceration. In the glass, the wine displays a wonderful bright cherry color with violet hues. The nose is vibrant and joyous, exhibiting aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries alongside notes of red flowers and licorice. The palate is fruit-forward, juicy, lively and full of energy. Flavors of candied berries, fresh cherries and red plums explode in the mouth, balanced by a soft mouthfeel and integrated acidity that pirouette into a smooth, refreshing finish. This is a thirst-quenching red wine, one that I can easily imagine a group of hard-working farmers in Rioja splitting a bottle together over lunch out in the vineyards. Enjoy with a plate of cured meats — including jamón, of course — assorted cheeses and a loaf of fresh-baked bread: perfect! |
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| Usually $13, take advantage of 10% off 1-5 bottles ($11.70/BTL), 15% off 6-11 bottles ($11.05/BTL) and 20% off 12+ bottles ($10.40/BTL) for this week only (3/28/22 through 4/3/22). Eat Well, Drink Well
Laurent
Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop
2020 Vi-Ve La Llave de los Sueños Rioja Regular Price Corkscrew Price One Bottle $13 $11.70 10% Off  Six Bottles $78 $66.30($11.05/BTL) 15% Off Twelve Bottles $156 $124.80($10.40/BTL) 20% Off | | | | |
| Connect With Us! | The Corkscrew Promise All of the wine at the Corkscrew Wine Shop has been shipped from the winery and stored, temperature-controlled, at 58 degrees year-round, to ensure the wine is fresh and vibrant at your table.  I would like to thank you for being a customer of the Corkscrew Wine Shop. Without you, the traditional winemakers who work hard and respect their land in order to bring us these incredible wines would not be able to survive and thrive in the modern wine-making industry. I thank you for supporting us, and in turn supporting them.
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