Marqués de Riscal

Marqués de Riscal – pioneer from Rioja Alavesa

Anyone who understands the history of modern Spanish wine cannot ignore Herederos del Marqués de Riscal . In 1858, Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga, the 6th Marqués de Riscal, founded the winery in Elciego , in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, with a clear mission: to bring the French wine culture he had come to appreciate during his time in Bordeaux to Spain. He brought in Jean Pineau , cellar master of Château Lanessan in the Haut-Médoc, as a consultant, who laid the foundation for Rioja's first modern winery.

The first vintages were bottled and stored as early as 1862 – some of which still slumber in the vaulted cellar La Catedral , the historic bottle library beneath the winery. In 1883, the second cellar, known as El Palomar , was built in the architectural style of Bordeaux cellars. And in 1895, Marqués de Riscal became the first non-French winery to receive a certificate of honor from the International Exhibition in Bordeaux – an award that cemented the house's reputation far beyond Spain.

Innovations that changed the wine world

Marqués de Riscal was a house of pioneers from the very beginning. Early innovations included:

• The characteristic wire mesh around the bottle serves as protection against counterfeiting.
• The use of 225-liter Bordeaux barriques and wooden cones for fermentation
• The horizontal storage of the bottles
• Experiments with international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Sémillon

The next major step for the winery came in the 1970s : Marqués de Riscal relocated its white wine production to the Rueda region. Verdejo, the native grape variety there, was considered almost impossible to manage at the time – prone to oxidation and difficult to vinify. The cellar team, however, recognized its potential and unlocked it through harvesting in the cool morning hours, rigorous selection, and temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. In 1974 , Marqués de Riscal also became the first winery to introduce Sauvignon Blanc to Rueda, thus playing a key role in the establishment of the independent DO Rueda in the 1980s . Today, all of the winery's own vineyards in Rueda are certified organic .

The region: Rioja Alavesa and Rueda

In Rioja Alavesa , the Basque sub-region of DOCa Rioja, Marqués de Riscal cultivates approximately 1,500 hectares of vineyards in and around Elciego, Leza, Laguardia, and Villabuena de Álava – 500 hectares of which are owned by the estate. The old vines, some over 70 years old, grow on clay-limestone soils and form the basis for the estate's classic Rioja wines. In Rueda , they also own an additional 205 hectares and lease 250 hectares, where Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive.

The winery markets more than 7 million bottles annually in over 110 countries and achieved a turnover of €72 million in 2021 with 310 employees. In the same year, Marqués de Riscal was voted the second-best winery in the world and the best winery in Europe by World's Best Vineyards .

Architecture as a statement

The most visible symbol of this self-image is the Ciudad del Vino : Designed by Frank Gehry , the hotel, opened in 2006 , is clad in titanium in the colors pink (red wine), gold (wire mesh), and silver (capsule) – a sculptural homage to the hotel's identity. Below, in the vaults, lies La Catedral, containing bottles of every vintage since 1862.

The wines: from classic to single-vineyard projects

The heart of the range is the Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva – for some 150 years the estate's most important wine and one of the most renowned Rioja wines worldwide. Made exclusively from Tempranillo grapes grown on old, high-altitude vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa, it is traditionally aged in American oak barrels. The modern counterpart is the Barón de Chirel Reserva , a benchmark for the modernization of Rioja since the 1986 vintage: vines between 80 and 110 years old, aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. Since 2009, Finca Torrea has completed the portfolio – a fruit-forward Rioja made from old Tempranillo and Graciano vines grown directly around the winery in Elciego.

The product range at Vinoscout

At Vinoscout you will find a carefully selected range from the Marqués de Riscal portfolio, showcasing the full spectrum of the house:

• Marqués de Riscal Reserva Rioja DOCa – the classic that started it all
• Marqués de Riscal Gran Reserva Rioja – for those seeking more depth and maturity
• Marqués de Riscal Reserva Rioja DOCa 1.5 l Magnum – the Reserva in a large format
• Marqués de Riscal Rosado Rioja – the house’s uncomplicated rosé
• Marqués de Riscal Blanco Rueda DO – fresh Verdejo from organically certified locations
• Marqués de Riscal Sauvignon Blanc – an aromatic white wine from the DO Rueda

Prices range from 8.85 to 39.90 euros – a selection that covers everything from everyday enjoyment to special occasions.