Rioja Vega Blanco, Rioja 2023

The origins of Rioja Vega go back to 1882 when Don Felipe Ugalde established a bodega bearing his name in Haro. In 1948 the bodega joined with Bodegas Muerza through marriage and the name disappeared.

In 1983 it was acquired by the Group Principe de Viana and construction of a new winery and a new brand, Rioja Vega, started in January 2001. The winery is located in the town of Viana, 10 km south-east of Logroño, a beautiful walled town that reminds you of the more famous Laguardia. There are also 51 hectares of Tempranillo and 9 hectares of Graciano planted around the winery, and a total of 70 hectares of vineyards is planned spanning both the Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental regions. Each plot has its own weather station to monitorhumidity and temperature - vital to maintain health throughout the growing season. The goal is to produce high quality grapes from low yields in modern surroundings. Rioja Vega's style tends towards the traditional, with more American oak used than French, but the purity of fruit and the emphasis on quality has produced wines with an excellent reputation amongst their peers. Winemaker Esperanza Elias has been working her magic in a very modest way since taking over in 2007. Barrels are replaced much more frequently, she has brought in egg-shaped stainless steel fermenters to improve extraction and Vega now breeds its own strain of yeasts found in the vineyard. Great value from a bodega on the up.