Marques de Riscal, a leading company in the spanish wine sector.

Wines of the Herederos de Marqués de Riscal has always been a leading and pioneering company in the wine producing sector.

As far back as 1858, it became the first winery in the Rioja to produce wines following the Bordeaux method and in 1972, it was the first winery to promote the Rueda Designation of Origin, where it produced its famous Marqués de Riscal white wines.

Marqués de Riscal sells its products in over 70 countries and its wines enjoy the highest international distinctions as well as numerous awards and mentions in the media.

In the XXI century, Herederos del Marqués de Riscal is still writing its history with the “Ciudad del Vino”, a project that is a milestone in the way to understand the world of wine.
The beginnings

In 1858, Don Guillermo Hurtado de Amézaga, Marqués de Riscal, diplomat, journalist and free-thinker, a resident of Bordeaux since 1836 and owner of vineyards and a winery on the Torrea Estate (Elciego), was asked by the Diputación Foral de Álava to hire a French wine expert to train local producers in the winemaking techniques used in the Médoc.

Don Camilo hired Jean Pineau, a winemaker at Château Lanessan, on behalf of the Diputación, a consultancy for the Alava winemakers. That same year, the Marqués de Riscal sent “9,000 vines of the highest quality” - including the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir - to the Alavesa Rioja vineyards, where until that time, Tempranillo and Graciano had reigned supreme.
The Vineyards
D.O. Ca Rioja

The main source for producing Marqués de Riscal wines is located in Elciego (Alava).

These vineyards, the first planted by this vinery, stretch across approximately 1,300 hectares. The land is spread between Elciego and surrounding villages, from which four varieties of grapes are harvested to make wines with Rioja D.O. C.a.

Hectares of vineyards:

* 220 Ha of Marqués de Riscal
* 985 Ha of other vineyards

Varieties of grape:

* Tempranillo: predominant variety
* Graciano
* Mazuelo
* Cabernet Sauvignon: as well as the other varieties, Herederos del Marques de Riscal has cultivated this variety since the company was founded in 1858.
Rueda

Herederos del Marqués de Riscal has the largest self-owned vineyards on the Rueda designation of origin (181 hectares).

It is also the leading wine producer in the area as well as one of the largest in Castilla and Leon. Hectares of de vineyards 185 Ha of Marqués de Riscal white 400 Ha other vineyards

Grape varieties:

* Verdejo: A variety indigenous to the area, it has great versatility and personality allowing both Oloroso and amontillado wines to be obtained as well as fresh white wines or oak cask matured white wines.
* Sauvignon Blanc: This French origin variety was introduced to Rueda by the Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in 1974. It is currently included in the authorized varieties of the designation of origin.
* Viura: A grape variety which is a small part of the Marqués de Riscal Rueda Verdejo white wine.
Castilla y Leon

Marqués de Riscal has 185 hectares of vineyards in the area of Toro and San Román de Hornija, both belonging to the Toro designation of origin. Marqués de Riscal, a pioneer in the production of wines of the highest quality in Rioja and Rueda, launched a new line of production with Riscal 1860. Riscal 1860 is a red wine with excellent expression and is not part of the Rioja D.O. which was launched on the market in 1999 with the 1998 vintage.

Hectares of vineyards:

* 185 Ha of red wine

Grape varieties:

* Tempranillo or toro red: a variety produced from the careful selection of the best areas and strains of the tempranillo variety over 20 years by scanning the Ribera del Duero region. This variety produces very aromatic wines with great body and color. They are well structured with great freshness and intensity.