More information

Remirez de Ganuza, a wine paradise in La Rioja

The vineyards consist of over eighty hectares of tempranillo, graciano, viura, and malvasía. They are spread across six locations in the Sierra Cantabria: Samaniego, Leza, Elciego, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Laguardia, and Ábalos, in Rioja Alavesa. For their selection, habitat, microclimate, orientation of the plots, low productivity of the vines, and vine age have all been taken into account, with the average age of the vines being fifty years. This extensive land area allows for self-sufficiency in the highest quality grapes.

Technical Details

Winery: Own Vineyards, at Bodegas Fernando Remírez de Ganuza, Samaniego (Rioja Alavesa). D.O.Ca. La Rioja Alcohol Content: 14%

Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Viura and Malvasía skins

Tasting Notes: Deep purple. On the nose: Fine and complex. Soft aromas of ripe red and black fruit. On the palate: Rich and well-rounded. Polished tannins. Broad, elegant, delicate, and long-lasting.

Serving Temperature: 16ºC

Production: They are spread across six locations in the Sierra Cantabria: Samaniego, Leza, Elciego, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Laguardia, and Ábalos. The harvest is done manually in 12 kg boxes. Before fermentation, the grapes are stored in refrigeration rooms for 24 hours at a temperature of 4-6 degrees. The grapes go through a selection table where the different parts of the bunch are separated. For the production of this wine, the shoulders, the upper part of the bunch most exposed to the sun, and therefore, the ripest, are used. Fermentation takes place in small stainless steel tanks and French oak vats. Malolactic fermentation occurs in new barrels. Aging is carried out for 24 months in new oak barrels (80% French oak and 20% American oak). We recommend decanting it for an hour before enjoying this exceptional wine from La Rioja.

Remirez de Ganuza's vineyards consist of over eighty hectares of tempranillo, graciano, viura, and malvasía. They are spread across six locations in the Sierra Cantabria: Samaniego, Leza, Elciego, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Laguardia, and Ábalos. For their selection, habitat, microclimate, orientation of the plots, low productivity of the vines, and vine age have all been taken into account, with the average age of the vines being fifty years. This extensive land area allows for self-sufficiency in the highest quality grapes.

Pairing: at Made in Spain Gourmet, we recommend this wine with big game, grilled red meats, roasted red meats, of course with Iberian acorn-fed ham, roasted lamb, aged sheep or goat cheeses.

A traditional winery with avant-garde production

You will find Remirez de Ganuza in the center of Samaniego, a beautiful medieval village at the foot of the Sierra de Toloño. Of medieval origin, it retains its appearance of a fortified village visible in many of its buildings and especially in the 16th-century church of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción, built next to one of the four towers that defended the village.

The Remirez de Ganuza winery, as mentioned before, is located in the center of Samaniego, Álava. It is formed by a block of buildings, old houses of the town, composed of modern reinforced concrete structures covered with ancient ashlar, integrating into the traditional local architecture.

Around a large central courtyard crossed by a natural water channel, the different buildings that structure the winery are dedicated to the different phases of wine production, such as the barrel area, the racks, the cold chambers, or the selection area.

The traditional architecture of the winery, with its interior roof formed by centuries-old oak beams, contrasts with one of the most avant-garde and innovative winemaking methods of the moment.

La Rio