Curiel del Duero, Valladolid, Spain
Located just outside Peñafiel in Curiel del Duero, lies the family-owned Bodegas Comenge. Jaime and Carmen Comenge founded the winery in 1999 dedicated to innovation and research to express the best potential of the vineyard. With his parents still very much involved, their son, Alvaro, handles the day-to-day responsibility along with winemaker, Rafael Cuerda
Their vines are certified using 100% organic methods. Using plant cover, the vineyard becomes a natural garden with a balanced ecosystem with no use of herbicides. The grapes are hand- picked in the vineyard and laboriously reexamined in the winery so only the best grapes are fermented using the natural yeast from the vineyard. The wines are then barrel aged in French and American Oak casks. The wines are then aged in the bottle for the prescribed time.
Along with Tempranillo, Comenge also grows Cabernet Sauvignon and Albillo from 100 year old vines. Comenge also has property in Rueda producing their own Verdejo.
As a family vineyard, two of the wines commemorate the owners. Carmen is a deep salmon colored clarete created from 50% Albillo and a blend of tempranillo, garnacha and valenciana. Don Miguel, an award-winning blend of 90% tempranillo and 10% cabernet sauvignon, is only produced in exceptional years and is an ode to the father, Jaime.