Bodegas Ontanon, Artesa Organic Rioja 2020

Fermented in stainless steel. Matured for 3 - 6 months in new American oak barrels.

Bodegas Ontanon is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja 'Oriental'). Here Raquel, Ruven and Maria Perez Cuevas continue their father Gabriel's work to develop Bodegas Ontanon into one of the most highly-regarded wineries in Rioja. Ontanon have vast swathes of vineyard in this part of Rioja. Whilst wine production in the region is typically very dependent on contracts with grape growers, the Perez Cuevas family have seen fit to invest heavily in the purchase of their own land and vines. Their 250ha is a testament to the importance they place on controlling grape quality. Their vineyards sit high in the Sierra Yerga mountains in the prestigious region surrounding Quel - and defy misconceptions that Rioja Baja is one of the lesser sub-regions within Rioja. Much of their vineyards are actually planted at altitudes on a par with, or above, those in Rioja Alta and Alavesa; (La Pasada is their highest vineyard at 800m above sea level  planted in 1979 it is used for Reserva and Gran Reserva wines). The hot and dry Mediterranean climate allows for consistent ripening of the grapes with little disease this has enabled them to pursue organic production across 57 hectares.