Vinalia x Merayo, Godello

The Merayo family has deep roots in the Bierzo appellation, with a long legacy of viticulture as both grape growers and wine producers. In 1989, Pedro Merayo shifted his focus solely to nurturing his family's vineyards, revitalizing the region's old vines that had been neglected during the Franco era. Relaunching the Merayo winery in 2010, he is now joined by his son Juan. Today, Merayo is dedicated to crafting site-specific wines from their head-trained vines, many nearly a century old, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to sustainable practices.

Nestled between the Portuguese border and the Bay of Biscay, Bierzo is celebrated for its distinctive, fresh wine styles. The region's viticulture traces back to Roman settlers, flourishing further during the Middle Ages as a key stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. For much of the 20th century, Bierzo prioritized quantity over quality; however, since the late 1980s, dedicated producers have revitalized old vine Mencía. Today, Bierzo is recognized as one of Spain’s premier wine regions, with specific villages and vineyard sites now distinguished on labels.

Native to Spain’s Galicia, the northwestern panhandle that sits above Portugal and exposed to the Atlantic, Godello is one of the most complex and ageworthy of Iberia’s white wine grapes. Most associated with Valdeorras, Godello is the fuller, more palate-coating counterpart to Spain’s other great and more famous northerly white grape, Albariño. With beautiful lemon oil and orchard fruit flavors, a broad flowing line of acidity, and stonier nuances, Godello is also cultivated in Portugal as Gouveio.