Remirez de Ganuza was founded in 1989 in Samaniego, Alava in Rioja. The bodega has 197 acres of estate-owned vines and long-term contracts with more than 70 grape growers located in Samaniego, Elvillar, Laguardia, Navaridas, Elciego, Leza, Labastida, San Vincente de la Sonsierra, and Avalos. The 2017 Reserva has delightful aromas of cherry, vanilla, red raspberry, and cassis and flavors of ripe red and black fruits with touches of finely grated white pepper, and just a touch of smoke in the finish.

Aurora Caño and Isaac Muga founded Bodegas Muga in 1932 in Haro’s historic Barrio de La Estacion and today the family sources grapes from high-altitude plots in the Rioja Alta region. Muga is well known for their very traditional Riojan wines, but their Prado Enea is made in a slightly lighter style. Grapes are fermented in oak vats for about two weeks, and the resulting wine is aged for three years in American and French oak barrels. After bottling the wines are aged for an additional three years in bottle. The 2019 has aromas of licorice, cassis, black raspberry, cedar, and mocha with silky tannins and flavors of sweet baking spices, ripe dark fruits, and a touch of dark chocolate in the finish. 

Macán is a joint project between Compagnie Vinicole Edmond de Rothschild (featuring Benjamin Rothschild) and Tempos Vega Sicilia. Together, the collaboration of these two impressive companies has created one of Rioja’s newest and most exciting wines. The 2020 Macán is powerful and impressive but maintains a sense of restraint and elegance. It has aromas of ripe red and black fruits with lifted notes of dried Mediterranean herbs and flavors of cassis, blackberry, red raspberry, mocha, and black licorice. Drink now or hold for 15 or so years.

Eduardo Eguren and his wife Carlota González began Cuentaviñas as a passion project to showcase the amazing terroir in which they grow their grapes. The name cuentaviñas refers to the Spanish expression loosely translated as the “telling the story of the vines.” This 100 percent Garnacha wine has aromas of red raspberry, orange pith, black currant, plum, and vanilla with silky tannins and flavors of dried Mediterranean herbs, white pepper, black plum, and red cherry.

Bodegas Faustino has been making some of Spain’s most recognizable bottles of Rioja for more than 160 years. They are currently in their fourth generation and run by the Familia Martinez Zabala. Their Faustino I Gran Reserva has been their flagship wine for over 60 years and is now distributed all over the world. It has aromas of tobacco leaf, bright red raspberry, cherry, and licorice root. Full bodied in the mouth, it has delicious flavors of ripe red fruit, plum, blackberry, and cherry with a burst of bright acidity in the finish.

Finca Valpiedra is one of Familia Martinez Bujanda’s flagship properties. It boasts more than 195 acres of vineyards situated on a large bend in the Ebro River. Altitudes range between 1,332 and 1,400 feet, offering cool breezes at night that allow the grapes to reach phenolic maturity. This delightful 100 percent Garnacha wine has aromas of vanilla, oak, caramel, red plum, and raspberry with soft, supporting tannins and flavors of blackberry, plum, and cassis. 

The Eguren family has been making wine since 1870 and is currently in its fifth generation. The family’s Finca El Bosque is one of their premier plots—it was planted in 1973 and is currently farmed using only organic methods. It has gravel and pebbles on the surface that afford excellent drainage over clay soils that retain water deeper down. The 2023 wine made from grapes grown in this plot has enticing aromas of dark cherry, plum, and vanilla and flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, black raspberry, and finely ground black pepper.