Miguel Merino

Bodega Miguel Merino is one of the smallest cellars of DOC Rioja. It was founded in 1994 by Miguel Merino Snr, who after many years exporting Spanish wines throughout the world, he made his dream of having a small ‘bodega’ to make the best possible wines, come true. Miguel established his winery in Briones, one of the most beautiful villages in Rioja and most importantly one of the few areas in Rioja Alta that kept old vineyards. All of the bodega’s vineyards are from the surrounding area, spread across no less than 34 parcels of land planted under vine between the end of the 19th century and 2001. The vineyard holdings total almost 13 hectares with just 55,000kgs of grapes harvested on average each year. Traditional and sustainable viticulture practices are followed with no use of herbicides and most of the work carried out by hand. The bodega’s reputation has soared in recent years under the stewardship of Miguel’s son (also Miguel), reinforced by the recent elevation to Rioja First Growth in Tim Atkin’s annual classification. Read more

The People

In 1994 Miguel Merino began to realise his dream to create his own winery. Starting with a restored farmhouse, he built a small vinification plant and barrel-ageing cellar, and started to buy grapes grown on small plots near Briones to produce well-made, modern wines. Miguel was passionate, charismatic and a treasure trove of knowledge about Rioja. Now, his son Miguel Merino Navajas owns and runs one of the smallest, youngest and most prestigious wineries in Spain. Try the unique ‘Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz’ one of the very few 100% Mazuelo (Carignan) made in Rioja.

Click below to learn about the winery, direct from Miguel Merino Jr

The Vineyards

Today all of the bodega’s vineyards are from the surrounding area, spread across no less than 34 parcels of land planted under vine between the end of the 19th Century and 2001. The vineyard holdings total almost 13 hectares with just 55,000kgs of grapes harvested on average each year. Traditional and sustainable viticulture practices are followed with no use of herbicides and most of the work carried out by hand.

Summary
13 Hectares spread across 24 small plots
Diversity of soils and aspects
Oldest vines date back to the 19th century
Sustainable viticulture
Harvest made by hand
Old plots worked by horses (tradition of the region)

The Wines

Rioja Blanco is a complex wine made by Garnacha blanca and Viura, a must-try.
Vinas Jóvenes punches well-above the price-tag whose grapes will eventually make the grade for the Reserva wines.
Reserva Vitola is a complex wine from old vines planted on the slopes, an elegant wine.
La Quinta Cruz is the only single vineyard example of 100% Mazuelo in Rioja Alta – beautifully fresh and showing intense concentration of fruit.
The Gran Reserva is produced only in the finest vintages – regal elegance and complexity belie the power of this wine.
La Loma is produced in tiny quantities from a 1.4 hectares vineyard – beautifully balanced and well-defined fruit, we’re not surprised to see this make Tim Atkin’s red wine of the year with impressive 99 Points.
La Insula; a single barrel of ungrafted Garnacha from an old vineyard plot planted in 1918.

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