Sustainability; Front & Center to El Coto & Baron de Ley’s Future

On May 13th I attended a fun, rooftop happy hour at the Shelbourne Sonesta- Vintage Green Rooftop. It was hosted by Victor and Sergio of El Coto & Baron de Ley Wines, Rioja based wine producers and part of the Opici Portfolio. We were also joined by Christopher Wirth, the Director of Sustainability and Opici Wine & Spirits. The evening began with a delicious assortment of buffet style appetizers and passed hors d’oeuvres. We were served a white, rosado, and a garnacha. I had the pleasure of speaking with all three gentleman and they were really forthcoming to their sustainability efforts. Family owned Barón de Ley (legit in Spanish) is housed in a 16th Century Monastery, built in 1548. You all know I love my historical buildings.

A standout wine for me was the El Coto Blanco Rioja 2024. The grapes are sourced from Rioja Alta and their Finca Carbonera vineyard. This vineyard has the highest altitude in DOC Rioja (840 m). The wine’s composition is 93% Viura, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, & 3% Verdejo. It is made from predominately estate grown Viura grapes (which are indigenous to Rioja) and is fermented at low temperatures to maximize freshness and citrus flavors. If you like California Sauvignon Blanc then you’ll love this wine. It can pair well with a variety of fresh seafood and chicken dishes, or even assorted cheeses. Of course, enjoy this wine nicely chilled. The best part is this wine retails for about $10-12.00. What a steal and a great party wine.

Another wine that was poured at the event was the Baron de Ley Rosado de Lagrima . This rosado is made from 100% Garnacha Tinta from the Los Almendros (which means almond tree) State vineyard. These vines are grown on Calcareous-Alluvial soil with a south-eastern exposure. The wine is fermented in concrete vessels. This rosado has a pale pink color with floral and red berry aromas on the nose. The palate is refreshing, offers desirable minerality and well balanced acidity. If you like Provence style rose, then try this wine. Serve as an apéritif or alongside pork, chicken, grilled fish and even Asian cuisines like sushi or Thai.

For all the Spanish red fans, Baron de Ley’s varietal Garnacha 2022 did not disappoint. This 100% Garnacha Tinta red wine was another of my favorites from the evening. Ruby red in color with slight blue-ish tint. Intense, yet enjoyable aromas of pink floral notes, red berries and and spices. Youthful & fresh with a fuller mouthfeel palate and softer tannins with notes of red plums, red berries on the palate as well. Lingering, enjoyable finish. This is a wine that can stand up to hearty dishes like meat stews, aged cheeses, and Iberico hams. Ageing potential up to 5 years.

Let’s talk sustainability: The Grupo Barón de Ley has three certified sustainable wineries: El Coto de Rioja, Barón de Ley, and Finca Museum. These three wineries are all recognized by Wineries for Climate Protection for their commitment to sustainability efforts and environmental awareness. These wineries integrate organic farming, renewable energy, and innovative practices to reduce their ecological footprint. The group uses the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as framework for driving their efforts , which focuses on reducing CO2 emissions, preserving biodiversity in the vineyards, ensuring fair labor, and holding wineries accountable for their actions by encouraging transparency. One practice that they employ that has stuck out to me is the eliminate of synthetic pesticide usage in the vineyards. Another element to their plan is educating at universities about sustainability efforts. By following these principles, they hope to protect the vineyard lands and surrounding communities that rely on them.

The team at Opici also sent other wines from the Grupo de Ley: Finca Museum Riojas and their Rose, as well as the white & rose from El Coto and the Baron de Ley wines all of which were standout, really fantastic wines worth seeking out that also retail very affordably. All in all, a great evening with great wine and a great Spanish wine group! Cheers!