Rueda report 2026: Producers to watch

It’s impossible to list all the interesting, quality-driven projects leading Rueda’s evolution. These are six whose wines – forged at the intersection of technical expertise, individual character and terroir expression – stood out at the tasting for the Rueda 2026 report:

De Alberto

The impressive lineup of demijohns at Bodegas De Alberto is one of Rueda’s most iconic and representative images; a symbol of a legacy preserved and of much-needed continuity and perseverance against the backdrop of a turbulent world. The winery was founded in 1941 by the Gutiérrez family and fourth generation Carmen San Martín Gutiérrez is currently at the helm. Although De Alberto is best known for its standout range of fortified wines, its unfortified labels also deserve attention, not least because the winery’s wider collection reflects the versatile talent of its winemaking team, led by technical director Beatriz González.

Félix Sanz

Founded in 1934 – one of DO Rueda’s founding wineries – Félix Sanz has been under majority ownership of the Ustrell family since 2012, with Albert Ustrell Serrano as CEO and award-winning winemaker Pilar García-Duque as technical director. The raw material for its wines hails from Pago Cimbrón, 30ha of vineyards located above 750 metres altitude, on soil with an intricate geological structure: pebbles over clay and chalk. Through mindful, sustainable vineyard management, Félix Sanz aims to preserve the complexity yielded by this privileged setting. García-Duque’s winemaking harnesses this potential to consistently deliver wines with distinct textural appeal and robust mineral framework.

Eresma

The brainchild of Aníbal Asensio Paunero, Eresma is the distillation of its founder’s decades of experience as one of Castilla y Léon’s most respected winemakers. After honing his craft working for different wineries across various Spanish vineyards, Asensio Paunero focused his resources and efforts in his own project in Rueda, where Eresma has been producing since 2006. In 2019 Asensio Paunero’s son, Rubén Asensio Valentín, joined the family venture, sharing management with his father and preparing for a smooth generational transition. Asensio Valentín is determined to continue Eresma’s focus on special vinifications that show the full potential of Rueda’s grapes and terroir.

Cuatro Rayas

With over 300 members managing over 2,400ha across DO Rueda, leading cooperative Cuatro Rayas is the region’s biggest producer and custodian of vines. However, its importance in the region is not merely a matter of size; Cuatro Rayas has forged a reputation for its quality first philosophy – spearheaded by head winemaker Elena M Oyagüe – making it a unique ambassador of the DO’s tradition and heritage, backed by technical expertise and ongoing research and development. While the cooperative’s socioeconomic impact in the region cannot be underestimated, neither can the consistency and character of its wines, which have long been a benchmark against which consumers worldwide compare all other Rueda wines.

Rodríguez y Sanzo

Uncompromising, determined and at times divisive, Javier Rodríguez is making some of Rueda’s most exciting, category-defying wines, blending technical knowledge with a restless love of experimentation. His Bajo Velo and Palo Norte labels in particular have expanded Verdejo and Rueda’s potential in a way that is at once disconcerting and technically exact. Rodríguez started the project with wife María Sanzo in 2003; they have since amassed accolades for their work in Rueda and across Spain. With the couple’s children already involved in the business, this maverick project promises to continue to question assumptions and make world-class wines that creatively interpret the essence of Rueda.

Félix Lorenzo Cachazo

Another of the founding wineries of DO Rueda, Félix Lorenzo Cachazo’s origins date back to 1946 and remains family-owned and -operated; sixth-generation Eduardo and Ángela Lorenzo Heras are currently at the helm, overseeing sales and winemaking respectively. The family owns 35ha and manages a further 190, including 9ha of pre-phyloxeric plots. Under Ángela’s technical direction the winery has built a solid reputation for its flagship Verdejos, vinified in clay and oak. The family has also (re)introduced a Dorado style, inspired by its historical Cachazo Carrasviñas Amontillado, an important addition to the recent revival of Rueda’s fortified styles.

Discover more about DO Rueda: dorueda.com

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