There are 11 ha of vineyards here which are farmed organically. The wines tend to be more fruit driven and a touch less mineral and sauvage in style than some others. The Formiga de Vellut is the most approachable of the three estate wines, coming from Garnacha, Cariñena and Syrah and aged in barrel for […]
Contino is part-owned by CVNE and the wines are made by them. Indeed this was among the pioneering “Château style” wineries established in the Rioja region. There is a total of some 60 ha of vineyards, 4ha of which are Graciano. There is an attractive Reserva red which has good depth and is supple and […]
Talented owner and winemaker René Barbier advises at a number of other wineries, including Daphne Glorian’s CLOS I TERASSES, as well as producing wine here at his own 20-ha property. Clos Mogador is yet another super-rich, extracted, deep and dense example of this exciting appellation. The blend is Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and, unusually, Pinot […]
This small bodega is located in the far north-east of the country on the granite plateau of Girona and the vineyards are just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast and just south of the French border. The property is owned by a group of Swiss friends who retain Peter Sisseck (who vinifies PINGUS) as […]
This is among the very best sources of Penedes and Cava, in particular a number of stunning white wines. Carlos Esteva began restoring the vineyards on the old family estate in 1979 after they had fallen into a state of some disrepair. His key to success is the approach in the vineyards which are farmed […]
Based in the village of Mas Roig this newly established operation has 35 ha comprising Cariñena planted on sandy/clay soils, Garnacha on slate and Syrah on chalk. Nuria López Sarroca is in charge of crafting wines of splendid elegance as well as intensity. The Can Blau is dark, smokey and full of rich sweet fruit, […]
This is the brand name of the Cosecheros Alaveses bodega and an impressive range of new-wave Rioja is produced here from 75ha of vineyards. The range includes a well-crafted regular red which sees no oak. A level up are the Viñas de Gain Crianza and the more expensive Pagos Viejos Reserva. Both are rich, ripe […]
A recently created bodega moving wine quality and indeed the price achievable in this lesser DO to new levels. Barossa Valley veteran Chris Ringland established the winemaking for the project. His hand has also be seen in the excellent wines to the south in Jumilla at Bodegas EL NIDO. The wines are based on old-vine […]
A small and comprehensive range of Rioja is produced at Altanza in the centre of the Rioja Alta. This is a sizeable 320 ha estate with just under 200 ha planted to vines. Olive oil is also important here and around 70 ha is also planted to olive trees. Unusually only Tempranillo is planted and […]
This is one of the very best producers in Rioja. Most of the fruit comes from their own vineyards in the Rioja Alta although some other growers are also used. Impressive Rioja Blanco, blended from Viura and Malvasia is fermented and aged for a year in French oak. Offering more depth and complexity is Mártires […]
