Vicenta Mater, the soul of Vinos Tudanca

Visionary, fighter, tireless worker and above all matriarch of a great family.

It is impossible to talk about the origins of Tudanca Group And Vinos Tudanca, without giving Doña Vicenta de las Heras the prominence she deserves. I don't use the formal title before the matriarch's first name merely out of courtesy, though that's part of it; it's because there are women who lived in a century that perhaps didn't belong to them; because they were so progressive, and they earned the respect and admiration of those who were there and those who came later.

The story begins in 1870, in a pastry workshop. The property belonged to the family that Doña Vicenta became part of after marrying Don Gregorio Tudanca.

The puff pastries that came out of that bakery in Aranda de Duero were, and still are, small gastronomic treasures; perhaps because they maintain their centuries-old recipe. The artisanal production and high quality of these sweets ensure their fame precedes them on the most discerning tables.

Tudanca wines, a taste of Ribera del Duero.

The surname Tudanca was not always linked to the famous wines of the Ribera del Duero .

A few inherited vineyards, shared with her sisters in the town of La Horra, prompted Doña Vicenta to embark on this adventure. The daughter and granddaughter of winegrowers, she always had a deep affection for the vineyard and her heritage.

By this point in the story, there were more characters involved. Five children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and granddaughters. A large family, and a close-knit one at that. Julián Sardina, one of her sons-in-law, was the one who, with more passion and enthusiasm than expertise, accepted the challenge of making his mother-in-law's dream a reality. In 2001, the first Tudanca wine was labeled; and years later, all the descendants of this pioneering woman pay homage to their mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother with their wine. Vicenta Mater.

Doña Vicenta lived to be 101 years old, and surely this wine, 100% Tempranillo, will ensure that her legacy lives on.