Region of production: Rioja Alta
Winery Location: Haro
Year Established: 1877

Vineyard Holdings

  • Viña Tondonia (100 ha): Planted to Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano, Viura, and Malvasia. Soils are clay and alluvial, with a high proportion of limestone. These wines have lots of fruit character and structure.
  • Viña Bosconia (15 ha): Planted to Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo. Soils are clay and limestone. These wines are bigger and earthy.
  • Viña Cubillas (24 ha): Planted to Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo, used to make Viña Cubillo wines. Soils are clay and limestone.
  • Viña Zaconia (24 ha): Planted to Viura, used to make Viña Gravonia wines. Soils are stony.

Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages

  • Viña Tondonia Red Reserva: 75% Tempranillo, the rest a blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. Inaugural vintage 1890.
  • Viña Tondonia Red Gran Reserva: 75% Tempranillo, the rest a blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. Inaugural vintage 1890.
  • Viña Tondonia White Reserva: Blend of Viura and Malvasia. Inaugural vintage 1890.
  • Viña Tondonia White Gran Reserva: Blend of Viura and Malvasia. Inaugural vintage 1890.
  • Viña Tondonia Rosé Gran Reserva: Blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Viura. Inaugural vintage 1890.

Average Total Production

  • N/A

Summary

Bodegas López de Heredia has been strictly family owned since its inception in 1877 and is currently operated by the family’s fourth generation. The estate was founded by Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a young winemaker who modeled his technique after the French négociants inhabiting the region due to the outbreak of phylloxera in France. López de Heredia is considered one of the most traditional producers in the region. All wines undergo extensive aging in American oak barrels, typically exceeding the minimum requirements set by the Consejos Reguladores. They do not employ any new oak.

López de Heredia is best known for its Gran Reserva bottlings, produced only in the best vintages, from the family’s century-old Tondonia and Bosconia vineyards.

Style & Vinification Techniques

True to its high standards of quality, López de Heredia carefully monitors all levels of production, from meticulous selection done by hand in the vineyards to an on-premise cooperage owned by the family. Most of the winery’s vineyards have a vine age over 40 years. The winery’s top red and white wines often undergo 10 years of aging in American oak barrels and spend additional time resting in the bottle prior to release.

Producer Website: López de Heredia