Elciego (Alava)
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 20 years from the vintage, depending on the specific bottling and vintage conditions.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled red meats, and aged Spanish cheeses.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Marqués de Riscal, established in 1858 in the historic village of Elciego (Álava), is the pioneer of modern Rioja winemaking. Invited by the local government to introduce Bordeaux techniques to the Basque province of Álava, the founder brought French oak barrels and Bordeaux winemaking expertise to the region. This red wine represents the soul of Rioja Alavesa, where Tempranillo thrives in the chalky clay-limestone soils sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria. Traditionally blended with small amounts of Graciano and Mazuelo, the wine undergoes meticulous oak aging, yielding a profile rich in dark cherry, balsamic notes, toasted spices, and refined tannins that reflect over a century and a half of winemaking heritage.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1858 by Guillermo Hurtado de Am zaga, Herederos del Marqu s de Riscal is one of the oldest and most pioneering wineries in Rioja, located in the historic town of Elciego. Renowned for introducing Bordeaux-style winemaking techniques to Spain, the estate pioneered the use of oak barrel aging in the region and later championed the Rueda DO for white wines. Today, the winery is celebrated for its iconic Frank Gehry-designed City of Wine and its exceptional portfolio, which ranges from traditional, structured Tempranillo-based Rioja Reservas to fresh, aromatic Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc whites.