Marqués de Riscal

History of Marqués de Riscal

The history began with Guillermo Hurtado de Amézaga, Marquis of Riscal, a liberal exile who lived in Bordeaux for decades. Having inherited land and cellars in Elciego, he was commissioned by the Álava provincial government to lead the Médoc Alavés project, bringing Jean Pineau, cellar master at Château Lanessan, to train local winegrowers. In 1858, he founded his bodega applying French techniques, planting nine thousand vine cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir alongside the existing Tempranillo and Graciano. The first bottles were released in 1862, followed by the first international awards five years later.

In 1883, the bodega expanded with the addition of the building known as El Palomar. In 1888, upon the passing of Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga, Juana Zavala y Guzmán took over leadership of the estate—a rare achievement for a woman at the time. In 1895, Marqués de Riscal became the first non-French wine awarded the Diplôme d'Honneur at the Bordeaux International Exhibition, an honor still featured on its label. In the early 20th century, the house introduced the signature gold wire mesh encasing its bottles, a mark of authenticity designed to protect against counterfeiting. In 1972, it expanded into Rueda, pioneering the appellation's first great white wines. The year 1991 marked the debut of Barón de Chirel, modern Rioja's inaugural high-expression wine, rooted in the 1986 vintage. Finally, in 2006, the Ciudad del Vino opened around the titanium-roofed hotel designed by Frank O. Gehry, while the historic cellar known as "The Cathedral" preserves bottles from every vintage since 1862.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Marqués de Riscal

The core of the vineyard is located in Rioja Alavesa, around Elciego, comprising roughly 540 estate-owned hectares along with nearly 900 hectares farmed by partner growers, all within the sub-zone boundaries. The vines are planted between 400 and 600 meters in altitude on poor, well-drained clay-limestone terraces, shielded from northern winds by the Sierra de Cantabria. This climatic corridor—where Atlantic, Continental, and Mediterranean influences converge—yields ripe yet fresh grapes with natural acidity. The estate has mapped its plots to identify the finest terroirs and oldest vines, providing the base for single-parcel wines like Finca Torrea and Barón de Chirel. Tempranillo dominates, supported by Graciano, Mazuelo, and a few historic rows of Cabernet Sauvignon.

In Rueda, on the stony and sandy plateaus of the Duero Valley situated above 700 meters in altitude, Verdejo and Sauvignon White benefit from wide diurnal temperature swings that preserve their aromas. Selected Segovia plots in Aldeanueva del Codonal and Aldehuela feature bush-trained, ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines that are well over a century old. The estate also farms an organic property in Rueda and recently expanded into the Basque Country at Finca Upaingoa in the Oñati Valley, at 250 meters of elevation and 60 kilometers from the sea.

Winemaking at Marqués de Riscal

True to its Bordeaux heritage, the house shaped its style through parcel selection, harvesting in crates for top bottlings, and patient maturation. Reds undergo fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks, with macerations tailored to each lot's structure, followed by malolactic fermentation that softens the palate.

Aging takes place in 225-liter Bordeaux barriques—using American oak for traditional bottlings and French oak for high-expression wines—with aging periods tailored to each category: roughly one year for Crianzas, two to three years for Reservas and Gran Reservas, complemented by extensive bottle rest in historic underground cellars. This patience is a hallmark of the house, which has continuously produced wines designed to age for decades. For whites, night harvesting, gentle pressing, cold settling, and slow fermentations between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius protect freshness, while aging on fine lees in stainless steel, vats, or Limousin oak barrels imparts richness and complexity.

Cuvées of Marqués de Riscal

Barón de Chirel Reserva (Rioja): the flagship wine of the house, introduced with the 1986 vintage and released in 1991, paving the way for modern "alta expresión" wines in Rioja. Sourced from a meticulous selection of the oldest vines in Elciego—Tempranillo complemented by historic varieties—it is aged in new French oak barrels. Powerful, deep, and long-lasting, it weaves together dark fruit, spices, leather, and minerality.

Frank Gehry Selection (Rioja): a very limited edition paying tribute to the architect of the City of Wine, made from vines planted in 1929, the year of his birth. A collectible red, dense and pedigreed, crafted exclusively in exceptional vintages.

Marqués de Riscal 150 Aniversario Gran Reserva (Rioja): crafted from the 2001 vintage to celebrate the house's 150th anniversary, this Gran Reserva comes from the finest parcels and benefits from extended aging. Classic and noble in profile, featuring candied cherry, blond tobacco, cedar, and sweet spices, framed by seamless tannins.

Marqués de Riscal Gran Reserva (Rioja): the estate's most traditional bottling, predominantly Tempranillo complemented by Graciano and Mazuelo, aged for several years in cask followed by extended bottle conditioning before release. An age-worthy, elegant, and complex Rioja crafted for the table.

Finca Torrea (Rioja): a village wine from Elciego, made from the Tempranillo of old vines at Finca Torrea, the site on which the City of Wine is built. A resolutely contemporary profile with shorter oak aging and less time in bottle, yielding a fresh, fruit-driven, accessible yet serious wine. Its label depicts the estate's vineyard layout, following the graphic aesthetic inspired by Frank Gehry.

XR de Marqués de Riscal (Rioja): a classic-style Reserva crafted from a selection of Tempranillo and Graciano from the property's old vineyards. Aged in French oak barrels, it offers a balanced and refined profile with notes of ripe red fruit, vanilla, and fine freshness. The house also produces a rosé edition, XR Rosé.

Marqués de Riscal Reserva (Rioja): the house's most renowned wine, recognizable by its gold wire mesh. A blend led by Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo, aged for around two years in Bordeaux barrels followed by bottle conditioning. Refined, elegant, and flavorful, it brings together red fruit, licorice, spices, and balsamic nuances in a classic style.

Arienzo de Marqués de Riscal (Rioja): the house's Crianza, crafted primarily from Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo, aged for about one year in oak. Supple, approachable, and fruit-driven, it offers an excellent introduction to the Riscal style.

Marqués de Riscal Rosado (Rioja): a saignée rosé produced mainly from Tempranillo and fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Raspberry color, a nose of fresh red fruits and blossoms, with a crisp, refreshing palate.

Barón de Chirel Verdejo Viñas Centenarias (Rueda): an exceptional white crafted from ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines over a century old, bush-trained and hand-harvested in the Aldeanueva del Codonal and Aldehuela sectors of Segovia. Aged for six months on lees in small Austrian Stockinger casks, it unites freshness, vitality, and body. Its name pays tribute to Carlos Hurtado de Amézaga y Zabala, who modernized the family firm after the war.

Marqués de Riscal Limousin Gran Vino de Rueda: a high-expression Verdejo sourced from the estate's oldest vines, matured in Limousin oak barrels and vats. This oak aging significantly enhances its cellaring capacity, bringing refinement, density, and remarkable varietal character. Since 2024, it carries the Gran Vino de Rueda seal.

Finca Montico Gran Vino de Rueda: a modern-styled 100% Verdejo aged on fine lees, delivering varietal complexity, body, and finesse. Sourced since the 2018 vintage from the estate's organic range in Rueda, it is enjoyable in its youth while gaining additional depth with a few years of cellaring. It also carries the Gran Vino de Rueda seal.

Marqués de Riscal Verdejo Sobre Lías Finas (Rueda): Verdejo vinified in tanks and aged on fine lees to gain volume and texture. Nose of white orchard fruit, citrus, and fennel, with a generous palate leading into the noble bitterness characteristic of the grape.

Marqués de Riscal Verdejo (Rueda): the most direct and vibrant expression of Rueda's signature grape, harvested at night and fermented at low temperatures. Aromatic, crisp, and refreshing, it makes an ideal white for aperitifs and seafood.

Marqués de Riscal Sauvignon White (Rueda): a Spanish interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc, lively and intensely aromatic with notes of boxwood, grapefruit, and passion fruit, framed by crisp acidity and a saline finish.

Txakoli Marqués de Riscal (Getariako Txakolina): the house's foray into Basque vineyards, this 100% Hondarrabi Zuri white originates from the best plot at Finca Upaingoa, planted on trellises in 2007 in Oñati. Hand-harvested in crates, gently pressed, slowly fermented, and aged for six months on lees in stainless steel. Crisp and taut, showing pear, apple, and grapefruit, with delicate herbal and floral touches.

Riscal 1860 and Marqués de Riscal Viñas Viejas (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León): the only reds produced by the house outside Rioja, presenting Tempranillo in a supple, fruit-forward profile for the former, and a denser, old-vine expression for the latter.