Show 249, November 25, 2017: Guillermo de Aranzabal Agudo, President, La Rioja Alta, S.A. (Vina Ardanza)

Guillermo de Aranzabal AgudoVina Ardanza, the iconic wine of Spain’s La Rioja Alta, S.A., celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. In September the President of La Rioja Alta, S.A., Guillermo de Aranzabal Agudo, was in the USA with his Winemaker for a brief key city tour to celebrate. Guillermo proudly represents the 5th generation of Family-ownership of La Rioja Alta, S.A. He’s graciously on the long-distance line this morning from Spain to chat with us.

Although it had already been produced and marketed for a few years before, the brand was officially registered on September 28, 1942 under the chairmanship of Leandro Ardanza. It takes the name from one of the five families who founded La Rioja Alta, S.A. in the Haro Station District of Spain in 1890.

Vina Ardanza is a wine mixing different varieties and plots. To achieve the “burgundy style” with great aging potential, La Rioja Alta, S.A. blends wine with different characteristics. On the one hand, Tempranillos from Rioja Alta, elegant, fine, with great aging potential, medium structure and moderate alcohol content. On the other, Granachas, powerful wines with great structure originating in Rioja Baja.

Vina Ardanza is a typical Rioja blend without a set recipe. The Vina Ardanza style is unique, but the blend of varieties, percentages, terroirs, barrels and even how long it is aged, varies with each vintage, always looking for consistency.

American Oak has always been linked to the personality of Vina Ardanza. With long aging periods, it provides distinctive nuances that connect with the profile of wines historically produced by La Rioja Alta, S.A.

Vina Ardanza, like the other wines of Grupo La Rioja Alta, S.A., is not made every year. They only market vintages in which both Tempranillo and Granacha attain their quality requirements. This happens 5 to 6 times per decade.