El Mozo, Herrigoia Maceración Carbonica (2019)

Region – Rioja Alavesa, Spain

Grapes – Tempranillo 85%, Viura 15%

Alcohol – 14.5%

Age of vines – 80+ yrs

Viticulture - Organic

Suitable for vegans - Yes

Winemakers - Gorka and Itxaso

Gorka and Itxaso, although both from viticultor families in Rioja, coincidentally met while they were living in Barcelona, working in entirely unrelated fields. In 2010 Itxaso’s family were on the brink of selling their land and cellar when the couple decided to step in, determined to not let the family tradition die.

Rather than producing bulk wine to sell to large scale industrial Rioja producers, they decided to vinify and bottle their own wine, from their own vines. A pretty radical step in a region that has suffered a massive campaign of industrialisation.

Gorka and Itxaso are determined to make some pure Rioja wines that respect the almost lost traditions and history of this rich winemaking region.

This wine is a traditional semi-carbonic maceration young Rioja. Red and white from old bush vines co-fermented together in concrete tanks. Very fruit forward.