Profile of Marqués de Riscal Winery, La Rioja, Spain

Profile of Marqués de Riscal Winery

Wine Map La Rioja
Profile of La Rioja Wine Region

Marqués de Riscal, founded in 1860, is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja and one of the first to introduce French winemaking techniques. Remodeling and reconstruction of a new cellar and residence in the Rioja winery is presently being designed by Frank Gehry, best known for his Guggenheim Museum in nearby Bilbao. This flamboyant building will house a 14-room luxury hotel, a 120-seat restaurant and a health club. The design, which echoes that of the Bilbao Guggenheim, was described by one architectural publication as "a composition of rectilinear prisms ... enveloped in cascades of pink- and gold-colored titanium and silver stainless steel." The model makes the building appear to be a complex series of interlocking boxes, draped in vivid fabrics flapping in a stiff breeze. The Gehry project -- in company with other architecturally significant new bodegas -- signals Spain's commitment to the future. In the 19th century, Bordeaux chateaux used historical architectural forms to market an image of prestige and tradition. In the last half of the 20th century, Napa Valley flourished as a home for innovative winery architecture.

Today, the lead has passed to Spain. Fancy buildings don't necessarily result in fine wine, but these bodegas are as impressive for their functionality as they are for their form. That owners will make significant investments in aesthetic as well as technical quality suggests that their commitment and their resources are strong enough to achieve their ambitious goals.

Address:
C/ Torrea, 1, 01340 El Ciego, Alava, Spain
Tel +34 941 606 000
Fax: +34 941 606 023
Web: www.marquesderiscal.com
Email: marquesderiscal@marquesderiscal.com

Winery Details
D.O.: La Rioja (Red crianza, reserva, gran reserva, Baron de Chirel), Castilly y Leon (Tempranillo single varietal) and Rueda (Whites)
Founded: 1860
Area under Vine: 1620 ha (220 under ownership)
Age of Vines: Ave age 15 years, "Vaso" and "Guyot" pruning; Grapes are hand selected
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, others

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