The vermouth encyclopedia

Vermutpedia

Rojo

Tordesillas

Red · Artisan · Medium-sweet

Velay Vermouth

Bodegas Muelas

Tordesillas , España

7.4 /10

Vermutpedia Score: 7.4/10

How we calculate the Vermutpedia Score →

Overall impression

Velay Vermouth is the first vermouth from the province of Valladolid, launched in 2014 by Bodegas Muelas (Tordesillas), a historic winery in a 14th-century underground cellar. According to the official sheet at bodegamuelas.com, the idea came from the father of the Muelas family, who always wanted to make a vermouth from red wine in which infused aromas would not hide the wine's character but wrap and enhance it. Velay is 100% Tempranillo from the La Almendrera vineyard on young red Muedra, with 25 botanicals; hand-harvested, 15% vol., 75 cl, ~5,000 bottles/year. Helena Muelas (winemaker and general manager) and Reyes Muelas (marketing and sommelier) relaunched image and bottle with Valladolid identity — storks, aromatic plants, provincial colours. For Vermutpedia, it represents the most gastronomic Castilian-Leonese vermouth from Tordesillas: exceptionally table-oriented, verifiable on the official website. Sibling to Velay Histórico (2008 vintage, barrel-aged), already in the catalogue.

Nose and palate

The winery describes an exceptionally gastronomic vermouth. On the nose, complex aroma with bitter orange peel, elderflower, fennel, cinnamon and liquorice among the 25-ingredient formula. On the palate, delicate sweet entry with balanced bitterness and harmonious expression leaving a persistent perfume. Young Tempranillo Muedra brings structure and red-fruit character without botanical maceration eclipsing it — the house's explicit philosophy. Compared with Velay Histórico (five years in oak before aromatisation), standard Velay is more direct, fruit-forward and geared to tap and aperitivo. The sweet-bitter balance is designed for pairing more than quick drinking. The finish is long, spiced and inviting a second sip. For anyone seeking a Castilian Tempranillo vermouth with historic winery DNA, this orange-elderflower-cinnamon profile offers a tasting coherent with Bodegas Muelas' official description.

How to serve it

Bodegas Muelas recommends serving between 8 and 10 °C. Enjoy with all kinds of aperitivos, pickles, preserves, ibérico and salted fish; with grilled meat — lamb chops or sirloin with herbs highlight the spiced notes; dare with exotic dishes: sweet-and-sour pork, Peking duck or teriyaki chicken. Vermutpedia agrees: Velay is table vermouth. It works solo in a glass with moderate ice or in a simple highball, but shines with food. Store horizontally in a cool, dark place. For classic aperitivo, 8–10 °C with olives and aged cheeses; for pairing, slightly warmer. It does not demand elaborate cocktails in gastronomic use. Compared with Histórico, classic Velay is more accessible and youthful. For Vermutpedia, Velay is drunk cold, with food, as Tordesillas vermouth built for serious aperitivo and maridaje.

Production context

Bodegas Muelas (Tordesillas, Valladolid, R.E. 7009-VA) makes Velay Vermouth with 100% Tempranillo from La Almendrera, hand harvest, young red Muedra and maceration with 25 botanicals. 15% vol.; 75 cl; ~5,000 bottles/year. No wood ageing (unlike Histórico). Velay range: classic and Histórico edition (2008 vintage, five years in American and French oak, 16% vol.). Winery in 14th-century underground cellar; graphic identity with storks and Valladolid aromatic plants. Store horizontally, cool and dark; serve 8–10 °C per official sheet. For Vermutpedia, classic Velay synthesises Tordesillas red vermouth: Tempranillo, semisweet, unaged, gastronomic, verifiable at bodegamuelas.com. Foundational piece of the Valladolid vermouth map alongside barrel-aged Histórico.

Discover more

More from Bodegas Muelas

View all (2) →

More from Tordesillas

Same type and style — Red · Medium-sweet

Country guide

The best Spanish vermouths

More than four hundred Spanish references tasted: the ranking orders the best bottles from each region by Vermutpedia Score, from Reus to the Basque Country.

View España ranking →