When the devastating phylloxera blight struck French vineyards in the 19th century, France turned to its Spanish neighbour for solutions. Amid this crisis, La Rioja emerged as an oasis of quality and resilience in the wine world. It was from this moment that the region's vintners began to appreciate and proudly showcase what they had at home by creating their own winemaking projects. In the case of Bodegas Bilbaínas, it was established in 1901 by a group of local entrepreneurs who took control of a winery from French producers based in Haro to start their own estate wine project. Today, it is the largest vineyard owner in the Rioja Alta and, under its three brands La Vicalanda, Viña Pomal, and Viña Zaco, it is responsible for introducing and spreading the classic profile of La Rioja that has so captivated the world.
From its extensive portfolio, La Vicalanda Viñas Viejas is a single-varietal tempranillo sourced from 10.50 hectares of vineyards, La Vicalanda, located around the winery in Rioja Alta (in Haro). Vines aged 35 years planted on calcareous and stony soils, poor, deep, and well-drained, are cultivated sustainably. In the winery, the selected, destemmed, and crushed grapes undergo fermentation at a controlled temperature, followed by malolactic fermentation in French Allier oak barrels, 50% of which are new. There, it remains for a minimum of 12 months before bottling. Finally, it rests in the bottle for an additional 24 months.
As a symbol of tradition and excellence in the wine region of La Rioja, La Vicalanda Viñas Viejas is a true treasure that encapsulates the essence of the Rioja vineyards and a testament to the legacy that continues to delight lovers of classic Rioja worldwide.