Terlato Adds Rioja's Bodegas Valdemar to Luxury Wine Portfolio

14 Mar 2014 --- Terlato Wines announced a partnership to import the wines of Bodegas Valdemar, an innovative, award-winning, producer from the iconic Spanish appellation of Rioja.

The agreement with Bodegas Valdemar caps a search by Terlato for a Rioja winery possessing the elements the company has identified as keys to success in the U.S. luxury wine market: family ownership, superior estate vineyards and a keen focus on the highest quality wines.

"We have found an ideal partner in Rioja," said Terlato Wines Chief Executive William A. Terlato. "In a very traditional appellation, the Valdemar family has shown how a bold approach to grape-growing and winemaking can deliver critically acclaimed wines. We're excited to expand U.S. distribution and develop the full potential of their wines in the U.S."

Just last August, Terlato entered into an import partnership with the Priorat winery Marco Abella. With the addition of Bodegas Valdemar, Terlato's renowned portfolio now also features a selection of acclaimed Spanish wines.

Terlato will feature wines from two Bodegas Valdemar lines: Conde de Valdemar and Inspiracion Valdemar. Wines from both lines have earned spots on Wine Spectator's prestigious Top 100 wines list for the past two years consecutively: The 2010 Inspiracion Valdemar Seleccion ranked in 2013, and the 2011 Conde de Valdemar White Rioja ranked in 2012.

The Conde de Valdemar wines reflect three traditional Rioja classifications: Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Tempranillo forms the backbone of all the wines, with grapes sourced from estate vineyards in the higher elevation of Rioja Alta, the flatlands of Rioja Baja and the rolling hills of Rioja Alavesa.

Inspiracion Valdemar, a "winery within a winery," was created by Carlos and Ana Martinez-Bujanda, following in the footsteps of innovation set by their father, Jesus, who in the 1980s was a leader in bringing temperature-controlled fermentation to Rioja. The new facilities for Inspiracion Valdemar provide the means to cool the grapes, carefully select bunches and berries, use small fermentation tanks and experiment with a wide range of oak types.

"This year, we celebrate 125 years of winemaking for our family," Ana Martinez-Bujanda said, "but we're never standing still, which is a quality we share with the Terlatos. We have a passion to show a modern expression of Rioja, and that comes through strongly in all our wines – especially with Inspiracion Valdemar."

The Inspiracion Valdemar line includes Seleccion, which combines Tempranillo with Graciano and Maturana; Tempranillo Blanco, the world's first white Tempranillo; and Las Canteras, named for the estate vineyard where the Tempranillo and Graciano are grown.