Accolades

Alma de Vino ~ Old Vine Tempranillo 2011, Ribera del Duero

93 points

Alma de Vino is the personal project of April Cullom, who served for years as the ambassador of the Ribera del Duero in the United States. Cullom sources Tempranillo grapes from vineyards farmed by Bodegas Montebaco, the vines planted on soils with high limestone content, located nearly 3,000 feet above sea level in the area of Valbuena del Duero. The soils and high altitudes allow her to produce a wine with freshness and tension, marked by tart red fruit and spices, with a firm structure that leaves no room for sweetness. It’s seriously structured, for an equally serious lechazo, or roast baby lamb.

 

Wine Enthusiast

Alma de Vino ~ Old Vine Tempranillo 2011, Ribera del Duero

93 points Editors’ Choice

Blackberry, a hint of raisin, mild char and lemon-peel aromas make for a fine bouquet. This is lively, punchy and chewy, with big tannins. Blackberry, chocolate, loamy earth, toast and peppery flavors finish long, baked, ripe and with the potential for an even better future. Drink through 2021. – M.S. Alma de Vino ~ Old Vine Tempranillo 2014, Ribera del Duero

91 points

Nicely spiced dark-fruit aromas of plum and blackberry are steady and stout. On the palate, this is tight and rough, with scratchy tannins that really dig in. Blackberry, spicy oak and prune flavors wrap up on a drying, texturally abrasive finish. Michael Schachner

 

Alma de Vino ~ Mar y Montaña 2015, Ribeiro (Galicia)

91 points

Pale yellow-gold. Tangerine, pear, white peach and a touch of honeysuckle on the perfumed nose. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering nicely concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors that are underscored by a vein of chalky minerality. Finished sappy floral and long, with a resonating orange zest quality and bright minerality (all stainless steel). – Josh Reynolds, December 2018

 

Casa Abril Godello 2016, Valdeorras (Galicia)

90 points

Brilliant straw-yellow. Fresh pear and white peach on the perfumed nose, with complicating floral and ginger nuances sneaking in as the wine stretches out. Silky and penetrating in the mouth, showing very good energy to its sappy orchard and pit flavors. A bracing, refreshingly tangy citrus fruit note adds lift and cut to a long, focused finish that leaves a hint of poached pear behind (all stainless steel). – Josh Reynolds, January 2019

 

James Suckling

Alma de Vino ~ Old Vine Tempranillo 2011, Ribera del Duero

90 points

Some cedar and dark berry character with hints of meat; medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Drink now but better in 2018.

Alma de Vino ~ Mar y Montaña 2015, Ribeiro (Galicia)

91 points

A fresh and rich white showing ripe apples, white flowers and melon on the nose and palate. Fullbody and a crisp finish. Drink now.

Casa Abril Godello 2016, Valdeorras (Galicia)

89 points

Straight-forward, ripe apricot and peach fruits with a smooth, fleshy palate. Bright, soft and balanced. Drink now.

Casa Abril Godello 2014, Valdeorras (Galicia)

90 points

A fresh and fun godello showing pretty aromas of crisp yellow apples and a silky texture. Bright acidity and a medium and clean finish. Drink now.

 

The Wine Hub, Luiz Alberto and Philip Kampe, 1/6/16

http://thewinehub.blogspot.com/search?q=Alma+de+Vino

Labels: alma de vino, april cullom, april cullom selections, casa abril, casa abril coupage, philip s kampe

 

The Wine Hub, Luiz Alberto and Philip Kampe, 4/19/17

http://thewinehub.blogspot.com/2017/04/casa-abril-selections-are-flying-off.html

 

Lisa Denning, The Wine Chef, 10/11/18

https://www.thewinechef.com/blog/thursdays-thrill-alma-de-vino-mar-y-montana?rq=alma%20de%20vino

https://www.annexgalleries.com/artists/biography/836/gonzalez-tornero/sergio

https://grapecollective.com/articles/ribeiro-rising-how-one-of-the-oldest-wine-regions-of-spain-is-making-its-comeback

 

The Glamorous Gourmet, Stephanie Miskew, 3/27/18

https://www.theglamorousgourmet.com/blog/episode9?rq=April%20Cullom

 

Susannah Gold, Avvinare, 3/15/15

https://avvinare.com/2015/03/15/women-in-wine-a-chat-with-april-cullom-casa-abril-alma-de-vino/

 

TV product placements

https://www.fox5dc.com/video/638030

 

PodCast

Go-wine.com WineTV interview “Solutions for the Wine Industry”

https://youtu.be/oUaDFiB_kwk