La Osa

Noelia de Paz is a champion of the Tierra de León appellation—collaborating with carefully selected local growers to shine a spotlight on the region’s oft-overlooked native varieties. Her small-lot bottlings display the freshness, yet age-worthiness, of Prieto Picudo and the aromatic intensity of Albarín.

Ever since Noelia began working her brothers’ vineyards in 2004, she has believed in her hometown’s vast winegrowing potential. She spent ten years working at her family’s Bodegas Tampesta, where she discovered a love for León’s native grape varieties, and a desire to introduce them to wine lovers around the world.

So in 2015, she conceived Bodega La Osa, and began sourcing Prieto Picudo and Albarín from local farmers. Prioritizing a respect for the land, she chooses growers who adhere to organic farming principles and limit mechanical intervention. She moved her winemaking operation to a cave carved into an Ardón hillside, which once held a mid-century winery, then a restaurant. Now, it holds the work of one of León’s most passionate winemakers.

Established in 2007, Tierra de León is a comparatively young Spanish DO, but the region’s viticultural history dates back to ancient Rome. Noelia aims to carry on its rich winemaking legacy while pushing the region forward in quality and renown. Even though she sources most of her grapes here, she also partners with Raúl Pérez in Bierzo to make a Mencía and Rodrigo Méndez in Rías Baixas for an Albariño.