Marques de Caceres

Marqués de Cáceres – Bordeaux spirit in the heart of Rioja

To understand why Marqués de Cáceres is among the world's most renowned Rioja wines, one must begin with a man who embodied two continents. Enrique Forner grew up in a winemaking family, fled into exile during the Spanish Civil War, and built a second wine world for himself in France – with wineries in the Rhône and Loire valleys and two Châteaux Grands Crus Classés in the Haut-Médoc. When he returned to Spain in 1968, he brought not only experience but also his mentor: Émile Peynaud, arguably the most influential oenologist of the 20th century. Together, in Cenicero, a small town 20 km from Logroño, they developed a style that revolutionized Rioja. The first wines appeared in 1975 – and caused a sensation in the local wine world.

A style that made history

What Forner and Peynaud brought to Rioja was a quiet revolution. They shortened the aging time in oak barrels to allow the fruit of the Tempranillo to express itself more clearly. American oak barrels, then standard in Rioja, gave way to top-quality French barriques. They also implemented techniques such as grape selection, cold fermentation, and controlled bottle aging – all with the aim of producing fresher, more vibrant wines without sacrificing the depth of the terroir.

The winery's fundamental philosophy remains unchanged to this day: Marqués de Cáceres owns no vineyards of its own, but works with long-term contracts with local winegrowers. Around 1,200 hectares are thus under their control, approximately 15 million kilograms of grapes are vinified annually, and 30,000 barriques are stored in the cellar. This is not a contradiction to quality – it is a model that builds trust and shared standards over decades.

Family, continuity, attitude

Cristina Forner joined the company in 1983 with the clear goal of positioning the winery internationally. She has been president since 2007 – and the face of a winery that combines family tradition with a global outlook. Under her leadership, the winery took the step of acquiring the Rueda Denominación de Origen in 2014: 125 hectares in La Seca and Serrada, focusing on the Verdejo grape. The vineyards there lie on stony and gravelly soils, some on terraces near the Duero River – a different terroir, but the same meticulous care.

In Rioja itself, the grapes come from the most privileged sites of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Calcareous and iron-rich clay soils, altitudes between 300 and 740 meters, vines 20 to 25 years old – some parcels even dating back to before the phylloxera epidemic. This creates a microclimate that promotes both structure and elegance.

The wines: from approachable to sophisticated

The classic red wine range forms the heart of the portfolio: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, all based on Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo as companions. Each level represents more time, more depth – and a distinct character that arises not merely from aging, but from terroir. The flagship Gaudium, first released with the 1994 vintage, comes from the oldest vineyards of Cenicero and San Vicente de la Sonsierra and matures for two years in the bottle before leaving the winery.

• Crianza Rioja – the classic entry point, Tempranillo-dominated, approachable and expressive
• Reserva Rioja – more maturity, more complexity, the reliable centerpiece of the range
• Gran Reserva Rioja – for patience and special occasions
• Rosado Rioja – lively and fresh, a rosé with attitude
• Blanco Rioja – the white Rioja, rare and underrated
• Verdejo Rueda Blanco – from our own vineyards in La Seca and Serrada, crisp and aromatic

Marqués de Cáceres at Vinoscout

At Vinoscout you'll find six wines from Marqués de Cáceres – from the fresh Verdejo Rueda Blanco and the lively Rosado Rioja to the everyday Blanco Rioja and the reliable Crianza , all the way to the Reserva and Gran Reserva for moments that deserve more. Prices start at €6.85 and go up to €22.40 – a range that proves world-class Rioja doesn't have to be a luxury.