Reserva, Rioja Vega

Rioja Vega dates back to 1882 when Don Felipe Ugalde established a bodega bearing his name in Haro. In 1948 the bodega united with Bodegas Muerza as a result of marriage and the name disappeared. In 1921, Rioja Vega was officially registered and has proven to be successful, ensuring a prosperous history of trade both domestically and internationally for over a century. The winery is situated in the town of Viana, situated 10 kilometres south-east of Logroño. Viana is a charming walled town that evokes similarities to the renowned Laguardia. Today it is owned by the group Principe de Viana who acquired it in 1983 providing investment in new equipment, staff and in 2001 a new winery, complete with an underground ageing cellar.

The diverse characteristics of their terrain allows them to produce a wide range of wines, each very unique. The vineyards of Rioja Vega serve as their inspiration and drive towards the future. The winery encompasses 51 hectares of Tempranillo and 9 hectares of Graciano, with plans to expand to a total of 70 hectares of vineyards in both the Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental regions. Each plot is equipped with a weather station to monitor humidity and temperature, crucial for vine health throughout the growing season. The objective is to produce high-quality grapes with low yields in a modern setting - honouring the Rioja region.

Leaning towards the traditional approach, utilising more American oak than French with an emphasis on the quality and purity of the fruit. The current building, established in 2002, was designed to preserve the tradition of the original cellar that was established in Haro in 1882. The new cellars incorporated modern equipment such as self-weighing hoppers, pneumatic presses and self-emptying stainless-steel vats. This level of development has allowed not only the fruit from their own vineyards to be processed but also that of surrounding contract growers so that it has been able to produce this range of great value for money wines. Since taking over in 2007, winemaker Esperanza Elias has implemented modest yet effective changes, such as more frequent barrel replacements and the introduction of egg-shaped stainless-steel fermenters to enhance extraction.

Additionally, Rioja Vega now cultivates its own strain of yeasts found in the vineyard. Rioja Vega’s state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with the most advanced technology, which are seamlessly integrated with the traditional winemaking techniques of Rioja. This perfect combination, along with our extensive experience in the vineyard, ensures the authenticity of Rioja Vega's wines. Throughout the years, they have carefully preserved bottles of ancient vintages, which are proudly displayed in a barrel-ageing hall.