Bierzo is located in a small northwestern pocket of Castilla y Léon, caught between the neighboring regions of Galicia and Asturias. Grapevines were brought to the area by the Romans, who founded the city of Bergidum that became Bierzo. It was they who dug into the clay mountains of Las Médulas, constructing the largest open-pit gold mine in the Roman Empire – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it was the Cistercian monks who cultivated and expanded Bierzo’s vineyards when they settled here in the ninth century. Their monastery of Santa María de Carracedo remains standing today. Although Bierzo’s history is steeped in wine, it is a relative newcomer to the international fine wine scene. This young DO only gained official Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1989. It took a new wave of winemakers and cooperatives to reinvigorate the region during the 20th century, working tirelessly to establish Bierzo as one of Spain’s premium wine appellations. Bierzo is arguably one of the best places in the world to taste single-varietal Mencía; premium examples are typically characterized by intense yet smooth flavors, often including floral and spicy notes.
