Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Located in Laguardia, in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, the San Lázaro vineyard of the Artadi estate spans a terroir of limestone hillsides at an altitude of approximately 600 meters. Nestled between the Sierra de Cantabria and the Ebro river, this plot benefits from both Atlantic and Mediterranean climates, with significant thermal amplitude that promotes a slow and balanced ripening of the grapes. The vines, managed organically and biodynamically, are planted on poor, well-drained soils, which give the wine great purity and a precise expression of its origin.
Sourced from a single plot, this red wine is made from hand-harvested grapes with rigorous sorting in the vineyard and cellar. The grapes are loaded into vats by gravity, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in tanks, to preserve the purest expression of the terroir. Maceration is carried out gently, with moderate extractions. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, on fine lees, for several months, to refine the tannic structure, bring aromatic complexity, and ensure a harmonious balance between fruit, freshness, and oak.
This wine reveals notes of ripe red fruits, dark fruits, and plum, complemented by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances reminiscent of pepper and licorice, as well as subtle woody accents of cedar and vanilla. The palate is ample and structured, supported by fine yet present tannins, well-integrated freshness, and a silky texture, which extends to a long, savory, and slightly mineral finish.
Where are we traveling?
La Rioja
La Rioja is today the most famous wine region in Spain. Its northernmost vineyards are located in the neighboring regions of Navarre and the Basque Country. The region is defined by the Ebro River and the Cantabrian Mountains. These mountains, which border La Rioja to the north and west, provide shelter from the cold, damp influences of the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a warmer and drier climate than that of the north. La Rioja can be divided into three zones: → Rioja Alta is the western part of La Rioja. As its name suggests, the vineyards are located at higher altitudes. The soils contain more clay, iron, and alluvial elements, and less limestone than those of the neighboring Alavesa region. The wines tend to be considered elegant with balanced acidity. → Rioja Alavesa consists of two distinct enclaves of land adjacent to Rioja Alta. Although both are located within the Rioja region, they are not part of La Rioja itself, but rather belong to the Basque province of Álava. The vineyards are situated at similar altitudes to those of Rioja Alta, and the macroclimate is similar. The soils tend to be more calcareous than in Rioja Alta, and the wines can exhibit higher acidity. → Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja) is the eastern part of the Rioja region. The climate here is much more strongly influenced by the Mediterranean. Drier and warmer than the other two regions, Garnacha grapes are given greater prominence here. The wines can be significantly more full-bodied than those of the other sub-regions. Most of the region lies south of the Ebro River, within the La Rioja region. However, in the eastern zone, the Rioja vineyards north of the river are actually within the political boundaries of Navarre.
The little history of the country
Spain
The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.