Valserrano – Bodegas de la Marquesa

This long-established family Bodega lies in the village of Villabuena, drawing from vineyard plantings on the limestone ridges of Rioja Alavesa. It is based on the same principal as a good French Château which is to use fruit only from their own vineyards, set rigorous standards in the cellars and, following fermentation in stainless steel, age the wine in oak part of which is renewed each year. The wines have elegance and pungency combined with the soft spicy allure that only well-made Tempranillo can offer.

The People

In the 19th century, Mr. Francisco Javier Solano y Eulate, owner of Marqués de la Solana decided to apply winemaking methods from the Médoc, Bordeaux, to age his wines. He was also one of the first to produce single state wine in the region. Today, his great grandsons, Juan Pablo De Simón and Milans del Bosch continue his work, helped by 5th generation Pablo, Jaime and María de Simón. Together they produce intense, elegant, and critically acclaimed wines

Click below to hear more about Valserrano, direct from Pablo De Simón:

The Vineyards

The 65 hectares of vineyards are planted in Rioja Alavesa, at the boundaries of Villabuena, a short distance from the wine cellar. The sun-kissed slopes descend from the Sierra de Cantabria, and are protected to the north, towards the banks of the River Ebro in the South- Southwest. Vines are 40 years old on average. Tempranillo (80%) alongside Mazuelo, Graciano, Garnacha and Viura are the main grapes grown on site however, the family recently planted a vineyard with Maturana red and another with Chardonnay to see how these minority varieties perform.

The Wines

Once fermented, their Riojas mature in underground natural cellars over 200 years old filled with about 2,500 oak barrels (70% American and 30% French).

White
Blanco
Gran Reserva
Red
Crianza
Reserva
Gran Reserva
Finca Monteviejo