Marqués de Riscal Winery and Wine City

A few days ago I had the chance to have the visit of a Mexican friend, so we visited some wineries and tried some wines in order to show her what is La Rioja.

We visited Marqués de Riscal a classical Rioja winery, located in Elciego, Álava, but belonging to the DOCa Rioja. Founded in 1858.

 


The tour started at 17: 00h, we arrived a little early to have a look around and see the wonderful hotel, designed by the architect Frank Gehry. During the tour it is explained the reason of the colours of the facade of the hotel. Pink because of the wine, silver because of the wine capsules, and golden because of the mesh that wraps the bottle.

 



Once the tour started, we went to a room to watch a short video of the history of the winery, its founders and its expansion throughout history until now, creating the current City of Wine, and actually it is, once you walk among its small streets, it seems you're in a completely separate small town.

Before getting into the wine world, we saw a model of the hotel and several photos taken during the construction. Then we went to see a vineyard located 3 minutes from the winery. The guide explained the importance of the Sierra de Cantabria and the Sierra de la Demanda as a protective garments to the 1,500 hectares of the winery; she also explained the importance of Tempranillo, the most important variety for them, but they also have vineyards of Graciano, Mazuelo and Cabernet Sauvignon.

We continued our way to the alcoholic fermentation area, despite they also have stainless steel tanks, the only room that we visited is the one with French oak vats. After a brief explanation, we went to the room where the malolactic fermentation is done (transform malic acid into lactic acid, this will provide softness and an easy palate), also performed in French oak smaller vats. To have a better understanding of all the works done there (input grapes, pumping, fermentations) we visualized another video.

 

Vats and all processes that take place are modern and adapted to modern times, then we went to an older cellar. Once the wine has completed malolactic fermentation goes into barrel, for this reason we moved to the depth where hundreds of barrels of French and American oak rest over time.

Before concluding the visit with the tasting, we turn to another area of the winery, which dates back to 1860, where we also find barrels, but we also saw the treasure of the winery, "La Catedral" a rest area where wines from all vintages from the winery are resting, an unique and privileged site was founded.

Finally, we had the tasting of two wines.

"Marqués de Riscal Rueda Verdejo" a white Rueda wine. 100% Verdejo. In a straw yellow color; very fresh nose where fruits like green apple are appreciated. With easy palate, very fresh, easy to drink and with a slightly bitter finish.

"Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2010", a classical Rioja, where the Tempranillo is the main variety, followed by 10% of Mazuelo and Graciano. Intense colour. Aged for 25 months in American oak barrels, is inebitable the appearance of wood on the nose and palate. Wine with good structure and a silky and intense finish.

To sum up, a classical Rioja.

Soraya Meinema Bilbao