Viños del Cénit
OCTOBER 2026
Get ready... this month's club is a wild ride! You're going to Spain's Tierra del Vino de Zamora in the greater region of Castilla y León in northcentral Spain, located on the Duero River almost to the border of Portugal. It's a small, little-known designation full of old vineyards where red & white grapes have traditionally been planted together.
All three of this month's wines are what's known as a field blend, where the grapes from a given vineyard are harvested and vinified together, meaning that the exact blend and taste is always a little bit of wild card. So fun. Your club wines present as two reds and a white, but both reds have red & white grapes (see estate vineyards above) in the blend. Magnificent examples from this part of Spain. Enjoy!
Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO
To the south of Toro and the west of Rueda, this lesser-known region on either side of the Duero River is a classic example of a continental climate – smoking hot summers and freezing winters. The vineyards are at an elevation of 750 meters above sea level, and it's arid. The vineyards are rich in clay with sandy layers on top where it's flat and pebbles on the top layer in the hills.
Viños del Cénit
"Established in 2004, Viñas del Cénit is a premium winery in the Tierra del Vino de Zamora region of Spain. It is known for its red wines made from ancient Tempranillo vines, some over 150 years old. Led by winemaker José Manuel Benéitez [pictured], the winery emphasizes organic practices, hand-harvesting, and, in some cases, co-fermentation of grapes sourced from old mixed-variety plots. The winery sits on the left bank of the Duero River. It benefits from high-altitude vineyards and sandy, clay soils. These factors contribute to the wine’s intensity and elegance. The winemakers practice minimal intervention. This approach emphasizes the grapes’ natural qualities. The result is bold, balanced wines that showcase the region’s rich heritage." –importer's notes.
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Viños del Cénat 2023 Field Blend Las Contiesas • Zamora, Spain • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Field blend of Doña Blanca 80%, Verdejo 5%, Godello 5%, Abillo 5%, Palomino 5%. 80-100 year old vines.
Aromas of pears, apples, and soil (clay). Super well-balanced. Complex. Has some richness from being aged 3 months on the lees and then 3 months in neutral oak barrels. Flavors add in citrus on the finish. Minerality comes through. Super impressive wine.
Jens: Welcome to the appellation of Tierra del Vino de Zamora. Drink now to 2 years. Pair with all kinds of seafood, roasted chicken, pork (lean & rich cuts). If you can wait, it would be a perfect Thanksgiving wine.
Viños del Cénat 2022 Field Blend Bonales • Zamora, Spain • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Blend of red grapes: 65% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha Tintorera & white grapes: 15% Doña Blanca, 10% Verdejo, 5% Godello. 80-100 year old vines in clay & sand soils. Aged 6 months in neutral barrels.
Nose is plummy with black cherries, soft spices & herbs. Medium-bodied. Good acidity. On the palate more black cherries, blackberries with plums & soft tannins on the spicy finish. Really good. Drink now to 3 years.
Pair with earthy, savory dishes: mushrooms with rice, Spanish jamón, beef or lamb stews. Mushroom bourguignon pictured below.
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Viñas del Cénit 2024 Field Blend Tradición • Zamora, Spain • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Clarete de Viñedos Viejos = old-vine Clarete (80-100 year old vines, clay soils) in this local (Zamora) sense is a historic style of wine that is a cross between a dark rosé and a lighter red. "Unlike standard rosés, which are made like white wines (pressing the juice off the skins immediately), clarete is fermented with the grape skins for a short period. It traditionally blends both red and white grapes together." –Ribera & Rueda Wines>
But yours isn't so light.... Blend of Tempranillo 60%, Donã Blanca 20%, Verdejo 10%, Godello 5%. Herbal nose with red & purple plums, earthy notes. Flavors add in blackberries, blueberries with some spice. The finish is really fun! It’s long, savory plum cake. Medium-bodied. Well-balanced. Drink now to 3 years. 3000 bottles produced = 4 pallets of wine. And you're getting a bottle!
Winery says to enjoy with local charcuterie: Jamón Ibérica and other Spanish cured meats, tapas, or paella (seafood, chicken and chorizo). In Seattle, roasted chicken, pork chops, and lamb chops would all be delicious. Also a great wine for fish dishes.
A Note from Jens:
This club is so out-there that we don't have words. To get a region you (most likely) don't know with a field blend (new concept for most people) is just nuts!! And the wines are delicious. Hope you enjoy this club as much as we did. We were stoked when we found it!
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. We host this tasting so that you can taste and learn about your wines before enjoying them at home.
You'll also be able to taste the Portalis EXPLORES club wines. Our October theme is Obscure Varietals: Frappato (Sicily) and Mencía (Bierzo). Absolutely great wines, too. Perfect for fall. We're killing it for you in October!
Great tasting. Hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online sign-up. You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).