| Region of production: | Rioja Alta |
| Winery Location: | Logroño |
| Year Established: | 1890 |
Vineyard Holdings
80 ha
Top Wines Produced
- Diamante:A semi-sweet (25 to 30 grams/liter of RS) white blend.
- Viña Soledad: 100% Viura aged in stainless steel.
- Viña Soledad Reserva: 100% Viura, skin-fermented in stainless steel. Aged 18 months in American oak followed by 18 months in bottle.
- Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva: 80% Tempranillo, the rest a blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. Aged 3 years in American oak, followed by 2 to 3 years in bottle.
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
Franco-Españolas was founded in 1890 by Frederick Saurat and is currently one of the largest wineries in Rioja. Saurat was of the Maison Anglade firm in Bordeaux and created Franco-Españolas, meaning „French-Spanish,“ as an hommage to both his own heritage and Spanish winemaking history. The winery became entirely Spanish-owned by the early 1920s and was purchased by Grupo Eguizábal in 1983. With a few exceptions, Franco-Españolas is considered a traditional producer of Rioja wines, aging wines in American oak barrels and typically exceeding minimum aging requirements. Frederico Paternina is a sister winery to Franco-Españolas.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Winemaker Carlos Estecha has been with Franco-Españolas since 1988, farming over 200 owned acres and working with even more growers. Top whites are based entirely on Viura, completely destemmed, and aged in stainless steel or American oak. Estecha sometimes opts for skin contact in top whites. The top red wines are made in a traditional manner: Tempranillo dominant and aged solely in American oak barrels.
Producer Website: Franco-Españolas