Bodega

This winery stands on a Burgos islet in Rioja Alta belonging to the monastery of Santa María de Herrera (Miranda de Ebro). Its 250 hectares are set in a lovely, unspoilt landscape in the foothills of the Obarenes Mountains that features forests and vineyards. The area is sheltered from the strong winds and the cold in lowlands that lend their character to the wines, typical of areas characterised by the oceanic climate.

Organic farming and reclaimed grape varieties and lands are the pillars that support Viña Ijalba. Located just a five minutes’ drive from Logroño, this winery, built on an old gravel quarry, opens its doors to visitors. With grapes from vines growing on more than 85 hectares, Viña Ijalba makes unique organic wines using the most modern techniques.

This small family-run winery in Ábalos has a long tradition of crafting carbonic maceration wines from its own vineyards. Driven by Israel, the new generation of the Eguíluz family continues to produce these wines using time-honored methods, including foot-treading the grapes—just as it was done centuries ago in the Sonsierra region. At the same time, they are developing an exceptional range of single-vineyard wines, selected from the family’s finest plots. These wines have already attracted the attention of top international critics, earning outstanding scores from the likes of Luis Gutiérrez (Robert Parker) and Tim Atkin.

This family-run project, with roots dating back to 1860, operates two wineries: one in San Asensio, their hometown, and another in Hervías, a stunning château surrounded by 40 hectares of vineyards. They produce wines exclusively from their 100 hectares of estate-owned vineyards, primarily located in San Asensio, Briones, Haro, Sajazarra, Anguciana, Hervías, and Bañares, giving their wines a distinctly Rioja Alta profile.

Founded in 1993, this winery is in Cenicero, along with its vineyards – one of the best places to make traditional Rioja wines. The Sáenz de Santamaría own 60 hectares of vineyards here, where they grow Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha red grapes, as well as Viura white grapes. One of their wines is named after their most special vineyard, Rondan.

Although its origins date back to 1986, when the Sáenz de Santamaría family purchased Nuestra Señora de la Antigua winery in Arenzana de Abajo, their ancestors have been dedicated to viticulture for over a century. In 2000, the winery was renamed Ruconia with the opening of its new facilities in Nájera. What truly defines this estate is its commitment to crafting wines exclusively from its own vineyards in Cenicero, Uruñuela, and other towns throughout the Najerilla Valley.  

Currently, the fourth generation of the family controls and crafts the wines, aiming for excellence in the most classic flavors and styles of the region. Their vineyards are located between San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Ábalos, in the Sonsierra region of Rioja. These are small plots without irrigation, with manual harvesting and pruning. Winemaking practices in the cellar combine traditional techniques passed down from parents to children in our family with innovative methods introduced by the new generation.

It’s hard to trace exactly when this family from Badarán first became involved in viticulture and winemaking—it’s a legacy that runs deep. Their winery is home to exceptional vineyards set on a prime plain near San Millán de la Cogolla, in the Alto Najerilla region of Rioja Alta, an area renowned for its ideal conditions for grape growing. Thanks to the distinctive combination of soil, altitude, and climate, they craft a diverse range of wines that embody a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable viticulture.

Bodegas Paco García (Murillo) has forged its own path to become a leading name in the new wave of Rioja—one that emphasizes the importance of place by naming regions, villages, and individual plots. The roots of Paco García lie in Heredad Garblo, the winery founded by Juan Bautista García’s parents in 2001. In 2008, Juanba took the helm of the family project, and together with his partner, Ana Fernández Bengoa, launched a fresh and innovative venture. Their wines—vibrant, expressive, and unmistakable thanks to their distinctive labels—quickly made their mark. Today, with a much deeper understanding of their vineyards, Juanba and Ana are leading a new chapter focused on organic viticulture, single-plot expressions, and even pre-phylloxera vines. It’s a bold and thoughtful commitment to the Rioja of the Leza Valley—an emerging landscape well worth discovering.