Rioja · España · Est. 1864

Bodegas Vega Sicilia

Bodegas Vega Sicilia stands as one of the most legendary names in Spanish wine, with origins dating back to 1864, when Eloy Lecanda founded the estate in Valbuena de Duero, within the Ribera del Duero Denominación de Origen (province of Valladolid, Castilla y León). Lecanda introduced prestigious French varieties that coexisted with the local tempranillo — then known as tinto aragonés — laying the foundation for a truly singular style. The Herrero family took ownership in 1890, and in 1982 the Álvarez family acquired the estate, propelling the group to international acclaim. The philosophy of Vega Sicilia is built on a demanding premise: the finest wine is always the one yet to be made. This relentless pursuit of excellence translates into an extraordinary patience in winemaking, with extended ageing in barrel and bottle that can span decades depending on the vintage. The flagship wine, Único, is released with ten years of ageing and has proven an unparalleled capacity for cellaring, placing it among the world's greatest wines. The Único Reserva Especial, a blend of three different vintages, represents the rarest and most sought-after expression from the estate. In 1986, the Álvarez family conceived a distinct project within the same group: Bodegas Alión, also in Ribera del Duero, whose first vintage reached the market in 1995. Alión embodies a more contemporary vision — more approachable in style, with shorter ageing, and distanced from the classicism of the parent winery. Its debut vintage earned a place in Wine Spectator's Top 100, and it has achieved scores of 96 Parker points and 95 points in the Peñín Guide. Today, the Vega Sicilia Group also encompasses Bodegas Pintia (Toro), Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, and Tokaj-Oremus (Hungary), cementing its position as one of Spain's most prestigious and financially robust wine groups.