2021 Moraza 'San Vicente' Tempranillo

Place: Rioja, Spain

Variety: Tempranillo

Farming: Organic

Bodegas Moraza is an insight into the history of Rioja, but more importantly into its future. For six generations the Moraza family have grown grapes and produced wine in the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, but in 2011 when Janire Moraza took over, change occurred.

The Moraza’s farm 23 hectares of native varietals; Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Viura and Tempranillo blanco, all certified organic. They are the first to pick in the village, ensuring a level of freshness. What sets them apart from other producers in Rioja is the winemaking.

All red varieties are fermented and rested in concrete only, it’s an oak-free zone here! The concrete winery was built in 1983 with everything designed for gravity feed to the cellar. Their methods are traditional — how Janire’s grandfather’s generation made wine, before Rioja became industrialised and tailored to the international market. These are wines lower in alcohol without manipulation.