Conversation with Vega Sicilia's Winemaker, Xavier Ausas Lopez de Castro

By Marisa D'Vari

Published: 07 November, 2013

Curious to discover the secret of this world class wine? "We do not make wine for critics," says Xavier, patiently showing me around the vineyards and winery. Even before my visit, I discovered in a stellar NYC vintage tasting that one of the (many) secrets was the extensive and rather complex aging process, which sees the wine go through a series of new, used, and large wooden vats. Xavier has given them names, such as the "muscle" phase, the "education" phase, and the "recuperation" phase.

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