The name Rudeles comes from the first few letters of each of the family names of the four owners: Ruperez, del Hoyo and Espinel. They have strived to make the most of their biggest asset, their 90-year old vineyards. Rudeles vineyards are located in Peñalba de San Esteban at the eastern end of the DO Ribera del Duero and cover 17 hectares at an altitude of over 900m. The vines are planted on the side of a hill in an array of tiny plots, some of them planted with only 50 vines. Almost all the vines are over 100 years old, with some planted before the arrival of phylloxera, and all are capable of withstanding the harsh climate. Average annual rainfall is less than 400mm. Weather-wise, the sudden autumn gives way to cold winters, frost is quite common in springtime, but summer is hot with occasional violent thunderstorms. In all, Rudeles own fifty different plots of vineyard, all small, spread across four separate zones, each of which is vinified separately. Per vine, production can be as low as just 200 grams of grapes. High-tech winemaking
ensures that the fruit of these vineyards is gently handled without over manipulation. The terroir and the bush vines impose that all vineyard tasks are performed manually. In the winery the complete winemaking process from grape reception, to fermentation, ageing, racking and bottling is strictly controlled.