La Rioja Alta is one of Spain’s oldest wineries, a favorite of wine lovers who enjoy classic, Tempranillo-based Rioja. The company was founded as Sociedad Vinicola de La Rioja Alta by five families in 1890 and has remained a family-run enterprise. Today the fifth generation, Guillermo de Aranzabal, is leading the business.
The winery’s quality-driven philosophy begins in the vineyards, where they cultivate 100% of their estate-grown vines. La Rioja Alta’s chief winemaker, Julio Sáenz, says owning their own vineyards is very important. “If we control the quality of the grapes on the vines,” he says, “we ultimately control the quality of the wines.”
Viña Ardanza Reserva
La Rioja Alta’s flagship Reserva bottling, Viña Ardanza, was introduced to the market 81 years ago and has become the winery’s iconic brand, emblematic of a consistent search for quality.
Known as an elegant and complex expression of Rioja Reserva, Viña Ardanza wines are lively, food-friendly, and worthy of aging—if you are able to refrain from drinking them, that is.
“If you keep a Viña Ardanza in good condition in your cellar, you can enjoy it for years to come,” says Sáenz, “and it will gain complexity and elegance.”
However, there’s no need to worry if you don’t want to wait. The winery employs extended aging of the wine in barrels and then in the bottle before releasing it to the market, meaning it’s ready to be opened and enjoyed when purchased.
Over the years the labels have changed, but the quality of
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
