Medot Solera – The Mastery of Time in the First Bottled Edition from 9 Vintages
Solera – A Unique and Rare Method for Creating Complexity in Sparkling Wines
Solera is a traditional method primarily known from the production of sherry in Andalusia, Spain, but it is also used in sparkling wines, particularly in Champagne. Although both approaches share common roots, their purpose and application differ significantly. In this article, we will explore how solera is used in sparkling wines, explain the differences compared to the Spanish tradition, and highlight its key advantages in crafting premium sparkling wines. This unique method inspired us at Medot back in 2012 to establish our own solera, which has now reached an important milestone – the first bottled Medot Solera, composed of nine different vintages.
What is Solera?
Solera is a method of dynamic wine maturing and blending that allows the combination of wines from different vintages. This method involves multiple levels of barrels or tanks, where the oldest wine is stored in the lowest level (solera), and younger wines are added to the upper levels. A portion of the wine from the bottom level, which is bottled, is replaced with wine from the upper level. This process is repeated year after year, ensuring a continuous circulation and blending of wines.
The difference between Spanish and Champagne use of Solera
Spanish tradition for sherry
In Andalusia, the solera system is used for sherry production, where the technique serves two main purposes:
Consistency: Blending different vintages ensures that each bottled sherry maintains the same quality and taste, regardless of yearly climate variations.
Complexity: Aging in oxidative conditions (exposure to oxygen) creates rich flavors of nuts, caramel, and dried fruit.
Champagne use for sparkling wines
In Champagne production, the solera system takes on a completely different character:
Freshness and vibrancy: The focus is on preserving freshness and acidity, which are crucial for sparkling wines. Unlike sherry, the champagne solera system operates under more reductive conditions (without oxygen).
Base for sparkling wines: Solera is primarily used to create the base wine, which will later undergo a second fermentation to become sparkling.
Smaller withdrawals: Only small quantities of wine are removed, allowing greater continuity and long-term preservation of reserve wines' quality.
Advantages of Solera for Champagne and sparkling wines
The use of solera in Champagne and sparkling wines offers numerous advantages that conventional methods struggle to achieve:
Consistency between vintages: Champagne houses using solera ensure a consistent style and quality, regardless of annual climatic variations.
Multi-layered complexity: By blending wines from different vintages, solera adds depth and a diverse range of flavors – the older base contributes maturity and richness, while the younger wines add freshness and vibrancy.
Improvement of reserve wines: Champagne houses often keep solera as a reserve wine to fine-tune future vintages, resulting in a harmonious final product.
Unique character: Sparkling wines produced using solera have a distinctive identity and depth rarely achieved by wines made in a traditional manner.
Solera Medot – a rarity used by only few producers
“At Medot, we began preparing our solera in 2012. In the first year, we set aside 25% of the wine for this purpose, then added another 25% annually over the next three years. After four years, we had a 100% solera composed of four vintages. Once we created this desired blend, we started using and replenishing the solera each year. In this way, we continuously build a base of multiple vintages from different grape varieties, shaping a recognizable house signature, contributing to new complexity, and ensuring the distinctive Medot style. Solera allows us to maintain consistency by balancing minor differences between vintages and creating a unique house imprint. It is important to emphasize that solera is not used for vintage sparkling wines. For those, we follow a different philosophy – focusing on expressing the uniqueness of the terroir and the character of each specific harvest. With solera, however, we primarily aim to present the house style, the taste of the Medot estate,” explains oenologist Luka Ribolica on the use of solera in Medot sparkling wines.
Market debut: Medot Solera from 9 vintages
In Slovenia, the use of solera for sparkling wines is a true rarity, but at Medot we have been building it since 2012. After more than a decade of careful work, we are ready for an important milestone – in the coming days, the first release of Medot Solera will be available on the market, containing 9 different vintages, starting with the 2012 vintage. The wine matured on fine lees for three years, giving it exceptional texture and depth.
This sparkling wine is created from our permanent reserve, which combines wines from different consecutive years. These wines interweave delicately and mature together, ensuring consistent quality and complexity in every bottle.
An Invitation to taste the unique Medot Solera!
Medot Solera is a reflection of time, mastery, and a deep passion for sparkling wines. It embodies nine years of patient work and offers a glimpse into the intertwining of past and future with every sip. Join us and experience the first sip of the first bottled solera in Slovenian sparkling wines – a unique opportunity that will be a true delight for wine enthusiasts. Cheers!
