Alión, sometimes thought of as the second label of Bodegas Vega Sicilia, is far from being a second label. The project, whose name is inspired by the region in which the patriarch of the Álvarez family was born, is however the younger winery in Ribera del Duero of the Álvarez family. Founded in 1991, it is located 15 kilometers from the famed Bodegas Vega Sicilia, and at 33 years of age, it has already built a reputation as one of the best wineries in Ribera del Duero. A testament to its commitment to excellence is that even at 33 years young the winery has already gone through several modernization stages, with the most recent being completed in 2009.

While most wineries focus on making several different wines, at Bodegas Alión only one wine is produced, Alión. This philosophy gives Technical Director, Gonzalo Iturriaga, and his team the ability to center all of their energy around only one wine, which in the end helps them craft a wine that consistently showcases the excellence of the Ribera del Duero terroir. Alión is made with hand-harvested Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grapes from some of the best vineyards in the region. The wine is aged between 12 to 14 months in new French oak and then rests in bottle at the winery for no less than 15 months ensuring that when the wine goes to market it’s well integrated and ready to be drank. 

During our visit to Alión we had the opportunity to taste their 2015 and 2019 vintages. We found the 2015 to be juicy and elegant while the 2019 showcased a bolder profile. We expect the boldness of the 2019 to soften with age while preserving the delicious fruit that it exhibited. The winery is beautiful, and while you might be able to find some details that remind you of Bodegas Vega Sicilia, it was clear to us that Bodegas Alión is a winery with its own personality and vision.

Having been fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Bodegas Alión and Bodegas Vega Sicilia, it is evident to us that the Álvarez family is committed to showcasing through its wines why Ribera del Duero is one of the most important wine regions in the world. In a family, it is never easy following the footsteps of a sibling, especially when they are famous, but at 33 years of age, there is no doubt that Bodegas Alión has made a name for itself and that the Tempos Vega Sicilia family has two wineries in Ribera del Duero serving as beacons of the region.