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Dominio de Tares Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

Founded in 2000, the Dominio de Tares wine estate has been quick to make a mark on Spain’s up-and-coming Bierzo region, earning a reputation for well-balanced, elegant wines. International varieties are shunned in favor of two native grapes: the white Godello and the red Mencía. Ancestors of these grapes are said to date back to Ancient Roman times, when Bierzo’s Las Medulas were important gold mines and when the Romans settled into the area, cultivating vineyards during their stay. Although these ancient and traditional grapes are still largely unknown beyond Spain, their complexity and concentrated flavors have many wine experts buzzing that Bierzo could be Spain’s next big Appellation after Priorat. The region in Spain’s northwest, tucked just under Galicia, is gorgeous and one of Spain’s best-kept secrets. Soft, gentle hills, charming historic towns on the Saint James pilgrimage, tidy patchwork vineyards, and small quaint hotels make Bierzo a wonderful place to enjoy a gourmet wine tour in Spain.

As Bierzo is considered one of Spain’s most exciting wine regions, Dominio de Tares is also considered one of the most exciting wineries in the region. Located in San Roman de Bembibre in the High Bierzo, the winery sources grapes throughout the Bierzo DO (“Denominación de Origen,” i.e., Appellation). This region has been called a “puzzle” of different microclimates and terroirs. The vineyards are located in pockets where the high altitudes (vineyards are planted as high as 800 meters), mild climate, and intense sunshine create optimal growing conditions. Dominio owns some of the region’s oldest vineyards; most vines are at least 40 years old, and many are as old as 80.

The Dominio de Tares label produces a diverse range of wines, each with its unique character. Among their notable offerings are the red wines Baltos, Bembibre, Tares P3, and Exaltos Cepas Viejas, meaning ‘old vines,’ and the exquisite white wine Godello. With a team of creative winemakers at the helm, the company prides itself on its embrace of innovation and technology, which has garnered them numerous awards and accolades. The United States is a significant market for Dominio de Tares, whose wines have received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Baltos, for instance, was hailed by Wine Spectator as “one of Spain’s best buys” and was awarded an impressive 90 points. The 2011 vintage of Exaltos Cepas Viejas received high praise, earning 94 points from Wine Enthusiasts and 92 points, along with four stars from the Guia Penin 2015. Similarly, Bembibre 2010 and Baltos 2011 scored 92 points in Wine Enthusiasts’ ratings. The winery’s white wine, Dominio de Tares Godello 2013, attained an impressive four stars and 91 points in the Guia Penin 2015.

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Further Reading

Author

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James Lawrence

With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has been writing for a wide variety of publications for over 12 years, including Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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