CerroGallina

CerroGallina is a wine project that was set up with the determination to produce wines of quality and a unique personality. It was around 2001 that Santiago Vernia, a pharmacist in Vila Real, decided it was time to take his love for wine more seriously. He decided to do a Masters in Oenology in Requena.

Collaboration with José Hidalgo
In Requena he met the famous professor and oenologist José Luis Hidalgo; author of many books on viticulture. Together they found an abandoned old Bobal vineyard in 2003 near the village of Campo Arcis, at the foot of the hill; the Cerrogallina. It took a few years to get the vineyard back in order and ready for production.

Bobal, deep dark powerhouse
The first vintage 2008 immediately became a new reference for quality bobal. It was also included by David Seijas – the former sommelier of El Bulli – in his book 112 wines for 2012. The six-hectare vineyard is 60 to 90 years old and is planted ‘en vaso’ or gobelet. The yield is quite low; only 1,500 grams per vine. The winemaker is of course José Hidalgo, who gives this beautiful fruit an eighteen-month maturation in new French oak with a very fine grain. The result is a deep dark powerhouse with endless, enjoyable juice.