The 85 hectare Rades de Monte Yerga vineyard, located at 700m above sea level in the Yerga mountain range, is planted with 40-year-old Tempranillo vines on stoney, clay-limestone soils, and is said to be surrounded by Mediterranean forest (Rock Hose, Holm Oak and Kermes Oak) which shelters the grapes from prevailing winds.
Managing director and chief winemaker Rodolfo Bastida said: “We have bought grapes from this vineyard for years and know it produces the sort of fine, elegant wines with good acidity and complexity that we’re looking for at Ramón Bilbao.
“Over the next few years we will explore the plot in more detail and perform micro-vinification experiments so we get to know the terroir and vines intimately. Land does not become available very often in Rioja, as we all know, so to be able to call somewhere as special - and with as much potential - as the Monte Yerga vineyard ‘our own’ is very exciting.”
Established in 1924 and based in Haro, Ramón Bilbao now owns 160 hectares of vineyards in Rioja and sources premium grapes from a further 700 hectares, and also produces Albariño wines in Galicia. The company claims to be currently the fastest growing winery in Rioja with an increase of 46.3% on the Spanish market.
