Bodegas Sierra Cantabria was founded by Guillermo Eguren, a self-made bodeguero, who was, in the family tradition, a viticulturist. His family, native to San Vicente de La Sonsierra, one of the most sought after terroirs in Rioja, had grown grapes in Rioja Alavesa since the 1870’s. For decades the family sold their grapes to local producers, but Guillermo recognized the potential that his family's vineyards had to create great wine, and founded Bodegas Sierra Cantabria in 1957. Today, the fourth generation of the Eguren family directs all aspects of the winemaking process, with Marcos Eguren as the winemaker and director of operations and his brother Miguel Angel Eguren as the general manager. The family still prides themselves as viticulturists first, and as a result, all of the grapes are estate grown, and they do not source fruit from any third party source. As viticulturists in Rioja Alavesa, they grow a vast majority of Tempranillo, with only a small percentage of Garnacha and Graciano, as they recognize that Garnacha and Graciano do not ripen reliably in northern Rioja, and they do not want to source their Garnacha and Graciano from Rioja Baja.

Grapes are destemmed and fermented in temperature controlled tanks with selected indigenous yeast. Total maceration is 24 days long. The wine spends about 14 months in Bordelaise French and American oak barrels. It is racked regularly every four months.

TASTING NOTES

Very classic aromas and flavors of dark fruits, toast and cigar box. On the palate this wine has wild black fruits, toast, vanilla, floral and spicy character. Shows excellent structure, smooth finish, which is framed by fine-grained, rounded tannins.

FOOD PAIRING

Rioja like this can be enjoyed with all manner of roasted meats and stews.  Favorite options are lamb and duck for meats and roasted root vegetables for vegetarians.  Manchego cheese is classic.  Rioja can also match nicely with spicy, barbequed ribs.

Duck, Lamb, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce