Hundreds of years of History.
Although our winery was founded on 3rd January 1961 and inaugurated on 15th May 1962, our families have been cultivating and taking great care of our vineyards for generations. When we talk about Sonsierra, we are therefore talking about hundreds of years of history.
Out of a combination of nature, history and wine tradition, an alliance was formed, a family-based bond with our land, an identity that defines us and makes us easily recognizable.
An example of coordination and collaboration.
Today, we are the second largest bottling cooperative in Rioja. An example of coordination and collaboration between 136 grape farmers who cultivate 492 ha of vineyards.
The Sonsierra area has a history stretching back thousands of years and some of the most important historic heritage in La Rioja. The civilization that has grown up around grape-growing and wine was already established in this area over 2,000 years ago…
Thousands of years of History.
The fields are scattered with prehistoric remains and archaeological sites, many of which are associated with winemaking. These include the Neolithic dolmen known as ‘La Cascaja’, a necropolis, hermitages, cave houses and wine stores, and wineries that date from the Roman era.
Together these offer a wide range of examples of our ancient history and of the work of our ancestors when making their wine, which has shaped the landscape since time immemorial.
Mediaeval legacy.
Meanwhile, the mediaeval remains such as country chapels, churches, great houses and castles have become emblematic features of the villages in this area. The imposing Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a reminder of the time when this was a frontier area and a frequent battlefield in the wars between the Kingdoms of Navarre and Castile in the Middle Ages.
This castle, on which building began in around 1170 or 1172, was the largest Navarran fortress near the River Ebro and was part of the defensive line running between Laguardia and Labastida.
La Sonsierra riojana,
a special place.
Almost everything we are today, we owe to our homeland, the Sonsierra Riojana, a name which means “under the mountains” and where wine has forged an exceptional natural, historical and cultural landscape.
This privileged area plays a very special role within the Rioja appellation. It is the only part of the province of La Rioja on the left bank of the River Ebro.
In the very heart of the Rioja wine area, Sonsierra is the region within the appellation that has historically been most famous for the quality of its wines. It has its own unique terroir and microclimate, which enable the Tempranillo grapes to develop in a very special way.
Vines are almost the only crop grown in this area and have become a way of life.
Our vineyards.
Our vineyards form part of an undulating landscape, occupying small plots and terraces which range in altitude from 420 m above sea level, in the low-lying fields near the River Ebro, up to 770 m in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria mountains. These different altitudes enjoy different levels of rainfall and temperature, which guarantee that the grapes mature perfectly in at least two thirds of our vineyards, even in years with extreme weather conditions, so allowing us to offer vintage after vintage with a constant level of quality and personality that is very difficult to achieve.
In our vineyards we only grow the autochthonous grape varieties that are most characteristic of Rioja wine: Tempranillo (a red wine variety) and Viura (for white wines).
Due to the long winemaking tradition in La Sonsierra, we have many outstanding vineyards in terms of age and quality. Alongside our younger vines with an average age of over 20 years old, about a quarter of our vineyards (150 ha) are planted with older vines of between 30 and 130 years old, a genuine treasure that we are pleased to pamper and take care of.
These ancient vines are a genuine piece of winemaking heritage. They are a guarantee of high-quality wines, as they are better adapted to the conditions of the terroir and the climate and can regulate their production naturally, so producing smaller amounts of grapes than the young vines, but with deeper, better defined flavours.
We invite you to discover all our experiences and services that we have created with you in mind. ENJOY!
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