Aalto is one of the most respected names in Ribera del Duero, founded by Mariano García, the former winemaker of Vega Sicilia. Here you will find Aalto and Aalto PS in several vintages and large formats, along with the white Blanco de Parcela.
Bodegas Aalto: Mariano García and Javier Zaccagnini
Aalto was founded in 1999 by two of the best-known figures in Ribera del Duero. Mariano García was winemaker at Vega Sicilia for around 30 years. The son of a vineyard worker, he showed an exceptional palate as a teenager and took charge of the Vega Sicilia cellar while still in his mid-twenties. Javier Zaccagnini had headed the appellation's Consejo Regulador. Their idea was to start again in the same region, using the best old vines they could find.
In 2006 the Masaveu and Nozaleda families joined as partners, and the year before, the new winery was finished: a concrete and glass building where grapes and wine move by gravity rather than pumps, with large barrel cellars where the wines age undisturbed.
Old vines from across Ribera del Duero
Rather than a single estate, Aalto draws its grapes from a couple of hundred small plots of old vines spread over nine villages across the appellation. The vineyards sit between 750 and 950 metres above sea level on clay, limestone and hard chalk, with warm days and cold nights that give grapes both ripeness and freshness.
The grape is Tinto Fino, the local form of Tempranillo, with small berries and thick skins suited to the harsh climate high on the plateau. Blending grapes from so many sites gives the wine both power and complexity, and each village adds its own side of Ribera del Duero.
Aalto and Aalto PS: what is the difference?
Aalto is the house's main wine, with a rich but elegant structure, dark fruit and fine balance. Aalto PS stands for Pagos Seleccionados, the selected vineyards. It is made in small quantities from the best and oldest plots and is more powerful, more concentrated and built for long ageing.
Both wines are here in several vintages and a wide range of formats, from standard bottles through magnum and double magnum to 5 litres, ideal for big dinners and collections. You will also find the Aalto Reserva XX Aniversario and the white Blanco de Parcela from the Fuente de las Hontanillas vineyard.
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Aalto questions and answers
Who is behind Aalto?
Mariano García, former winemaker at Vega Sicilia, and Javier Zaccagnini, former head of the Ribera del Duero Consejo Regulador. They founded Aalto in 1999.
What does PS stand for in Aalto PS?
Pagos Seleccionados, meaning selected vineyards. It is the house's top wine from the best and oldest plots.
How long can Aalto age?
Aalto is drinking well after five years and can develop for fifteen years or more. Aalto PS needs even longer, and large formats mature more slowly than standard bottles.
What food goes with Aalto?
Grilled lamb, beef, game and aged cheeses such as Manchego. Decant the wine an hour before serving.