Anyone else has the feeling that Rioja has been lingering in the background for quite a few years? But that today it is time for a renaissance? That is at least the feeling we have had when we have travelled in this northern Spanish wine regions recently.
We have seen a lot of new thinking and dynamism but still based on the long Rioja traditions. We have also a feeling that there is a tremendous surge in interests from consumers for Rioja. Or at least that there is one coming. Last year we opened Rioja as a new destination for our wine tours, with one Rioja tour. This year demand was such that we did four Rioja tours in the autumn!
One representative of the Rioja Resurgence (any other “R” words?) is Bodegas Baigorri. In Britt’s latest article on Forbes, Rioja Renaissance: Modern and Traditional Wines from Bodegas Baigorri, she talks about some of the exciting wines coming from this very young winery.
Here’s the introduction:
Rioja in northern Spain is back in the limelight. Known for its long lived Reserva and Grand Reserva wines with soft vanilla aromas, Rioja producers are today showing a range of styles. One good example of “new style Rioja without totally abandoning tradition” is Bodegas Baigorri in Rioja Alavesa, the most northern Rioja region. Baigorri is a fairly new producer who started only in 2000. We recently made a few visits to Baigorri and we were highly impressed, both by the quality of the wines and the fabulous modern design of the winery.
The vineyards surround the winery. “Here we have two meters of clay and pure limestone below”, says Matthias Lange, export and PR manager. “The roots pick up minerals down there”. The aim is to keep the natural balance in vineyard. They use a little bit of copper and sulphur to fight diseases but luckily the vines here are quite mildew resistant. They also use natural plant extracts from for instance sage for spraying on leaves. “We see that our plants are getting stronger with this”, says Matthias.
Read Britt’s full article on Forbes: Rioja Renaissance: Modern and Traditional Wines from Bodegas Baigorri.
