Vintage Spain Wine Tours. R. Lopez de Heredia

Founded in 1877 this winery is one of the historical wineries in Rioja, even more, it represents history in Rioja. It still is an authentic family winery, where the fourth generation of descendants of Don Rafael Lopez de Heredia is in charge of running the winery. They produce, among other wines, the famous Viña Tondonia, one of the great classical Riojan wines, using the same traditional methods they used 129 years ago. They are also one of the few wineries still producing aged white wines.

The winery is located in Haro, the wine capital of Rioja Alta. It has a labyrinth of underground caves excavated in the rock, which hold more than 15000 oak barrels for the aging of their wines. They also have 72 oak vats where they make the fermentations. Theus the whole process of winemaking is done in a purely natural and artisan way. Caves have names like: "Bodega Vieja", "Bodega Nueva", "Bisiesta", "Dolorosa", "Bodega de las Reservas", "El Caladillo", "El Frontón", "El Cementerio" y "El Calado".

López de Heredia owns 170 hectares of vineyards in the area of Rioja Alta following the philosophy that quality in wine has to come from the vineyard. The vineyards give their name to their wines: Viña Tondonia was planted by the founder around 1913-1914, Viña Cubillo, Viña Bosconia and Viña Zaconia. Viña means vineyard. The varieties used are the traditional Riojan grapes: tempranillo, garnacha, graciano and mazuleo for reds and viura and malvasía for whites.

Winemaking process in this winery is the most traditional style you can find in Rioja, from the care of the vineyards to long aging periods in oak and in bottle. Everything here is made in a the same natural and artisan way used 120 years ago, with the purpose of making the best wine possible, the mythical fine wine from Rioja.

Wines from the winery:

Viña Cubillo Crianza Red, three years aging with a minimum of two years in oak
Viña Gravonia Crianza White, Very dry, four years aging. 100% Viura.
Viña Bosconia Reserva Red, five years aging with a minimum of three years in oak. 80% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, mazuelo and graciano.
Viña Tondonia Reserva White, six years aging with a minimum of four years in oak. Mostly VIURA with some MALVASÍA or ROJAL.
Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Red, Coming only from exceptional grapes from the best years and the own vineyard of López de Heredia. Made out of the grape varieties: Tempranillo, Garnacho, Mazuelo, Graciano. Aged in oak barrels no less than six years, it does not come to the market until another five or six in the bottle after being clarified with fresh white eggs.
Viña Tondonia Reserva Red, six years aging with a minimum of four years in oak. . 80% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, mazuelo and graciano.
Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva Red, Coming only from exceptional grapes from the best years and the own vineyard of López de Heredia. Made out of the grape varieties.
Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho, Mazuelo, Graciano. Aged in oak barrels no less than six years, it does not come to the market until another five or six in the bottle after being clarified with fresh white eggs.
Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva White, In a classic Rioja Bodega like López de Heredia the Gran Reserva whites are allotted the same time to age as their red brothers.
Viña Tondonia Rosado Crianza Rose, four years aging. Lies between white and red wine. Made from a variety of grapes, largely red, it combines the coolness of its production with the perfume and smoothness only achieved by ageing in oak casks.

Pictures and text courtesy of López de Heredia