Sierra Cantabria Garnacha

D.O.Ca. Rioja

San Vicente de la Sonsierra

100% Garnacha

Two single, estate owned vineyards surrounding the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, sandwiched between the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range and the Ebro River.

1927 and 1929

Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic practices. Vineyards trained as spur-pruned goblet vines as well as high density trellises. Manual work and harvest, with no mechanization whatsoever.

Calcareous clay soils that are typical to the Sonsierra Riojana. Limestone rich clay soils that are sandwiched between large slabs of lime-sandstone mother rock.

Continental with heavy Atlantic influences that are moderated by the Sierra Cantabria.

The grapes undergo rigorous double-manual sorting, both before and after destemming. 100% of the clusters are destemmed, but not crushed. Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel (inoculated) with indigenous yeasts selected from their vineyard and cellar. Malolactic fermentation in barrel.

12 months in 15% new, 85% second use French oak barrique.

The vineyards used to produce Sierra Cantabria Garnacha are some of the oldest in the Sonsierra, and some of the oldest that the Eguren family own. Traditionally, Garnacha was a very dominant variety in Rioja. However, due to its long vegetative cycle, it is a late ripening variety, and struggles to ripen consistently in northern Rioja. As a result, throughout much of the 20th century, Garnacha was uprooted to replant Tempranillo. Some old vineyards remain, and in ripe vintages, the Eguren family uses these plots to produce an Atlantic, fruit-driven, peppery, fragrant, and fresh expression of Rioja Garnacha.