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On July 10,1890, five Basque and Rioja-based vine growers created "Sociedad Vinicola De La Rioja Alta" in what is known as the Haro Station District. This was the beginning of a fascinating business venture in which the only dream of the five founders was to craft and age high quality wines.
The European spirit which is so popular today was present in La Rioja and in our winery from the very beginning. Mr Vigier, a French expert, was hired as technical manager and we were soon familiar with what is now known as “classic” production.
The company changed its name to "LA RIOJA ALTA" in 1891.
In 1941 the company took on its present name, LA RIOJA ALTA, S.A. A year later, when Leandro Ardanza Angulo was chairman of the board, we registered the brand name to which we most owe our fame and renown: "Viña Ardanza".
At the time, casks were manufactured entirely in the winery by a team of five coopers. In 2002, we returned to this tradition and now manufacture our own casks with wood imported from the U.S. and dried for 2 years in our coopery.
In 1970, a new cask hall was built and we started to increase our vineyards, buying several estates. This was the time when new brands were introduced, such as Viña Arana and Viña Alberdi.
This was when the Club de Cosecheros was created, a new and daring way of conceiving the relationship between our clients and the winery. The Harvesters’ Club was created and continues to grow based on one thing: trust.
In 1985, we registered a brand name which was to become very popular in the future: "Marqués de Haro". At the same time, we stopped making the last young wines supplied by the winery, searching for a white wine with a great personality and different than other Spanish wines.
On January 16, 1996, work started on the new Labastida winery, located on our own estates just 1,500 metres from the Haro winery. This new facility enabled us to considerably improve the quality of the wines made by La Rioja Alta SA, especially with regards to the fermentation process.
Viña Ardanza Reserve
The Harvest
The weather during the vine's growth cycle was ideal for ensuring the highest possible quality of grape, with no pests or fungal diseases in the vineyard and correct flowering, setting and turning. There was hardly any rainfall worthy of note in September, so the ripening process went unhindered. Harvesting started in the first week of October on the Viña Ardanza and Los Llanos estates (both in Fuenmayor). The grapes were picked in an excellent condition, with good sugar content and excellent colour parameters for high quality wine.
Vineyards and Grapes
80% of the "coupage" is Tempranillo and the remaining 20% Garnacha. The 30-year old Viña Ardanza estate, where most of the Tempranillo comes from, is in Fuenmayor, in the Rioja Alta district. The rest is from a selection of our vines, also in Rioja Alta. The Garnacha is from Ausejo and Tudelilla, in Rioja Baja.
Ageing
Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks for 14 days at a maximum temperature of 28 ºC. The malolactic fermentation process was completed in 21 days and after racking the wine was transferred to casks in March, 2001. This Viña Ardanza remained in American oak casks, which were an average of 4 years old, for 36 months, being racked by hand 6 times. It was bottled in March, 2004. For the first time ever, it is also available in Magnum size.
Tasting Notes
Medium-high cherry red robe, with orange tinted tones on the edge of the glass, clear and brilliant. Intense and complex to the nose. Wild berry aromas predominate, blended with hints of coconut, cinnamon, tobacco and leather. Full-bodied and well structured to the palate, with silky and enveloping tannins.
Long after-taste acquired from its lengthy time in bottle, where its elegant bouquet gains in intensity. This Viña Ardanza continues to evolve without losing its traditional qualities.
Size: 75 CL
Alcohol: 13%Vol.
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