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Remírez de Ganuza Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

Respected and revered by his neighbors, the wines of the late Fernando Remírez de Ganuza have become a modern legend in Rioja, winning admirers as diverse as Julio Iglesias and wine critics worldwide. Plunging himself into the vanguard of modern winemaking, Fernando crafted wines of unrivaled power and finesse, where the fruit comes shining through. If you think Rioja means excessively oaky, dried-out wines, then think again!

Remírez de Ganuza may be a baby compared to its peers, but founder Fernando was no newcomer to understanding the unique terroir of Rioja Alavesa. For over 20 years, he bought and sold old vineyards in the region, gaining an unrivaled insight into the different terroirs within this complex region. Having satisfied his thirst for knowledge, Fernando began realizing his dream in 1989 by building a state-of-the-art winery in lovely historic buildings in the stunning medieval hamlet of Samaniego. The Bodega is a sight to behold, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria Mountains. Fernando always favored merging modernity with tradition; old village buildings and traditional stonework sit alongside modern winemaking facilities. No other landmark in Rioja merges the two worlds so well, and it attests to the brilliance of his vision.

José Ramón Urtasun joined the project as co-owner in 2010, with the Urtasun family taking full ownership in 2019. Fernando nevertheless remained closely involved with the estate until he died in 2024. Today, José Ramón Urtasun leads the winery alongside Jesús Mendoza, who joined Remírez de Ganuza in 1994 and has headed its technical team since 2001.

In a short time, the wines gained international recognition and applause worldwide, with their powerful, direct flavors earning plaudits from Robert Parker and other respected journalists. However, visiting this estate is about much more than just the wines, delicious as they are. The village of Samaniego and the surrounding areas have been compared to Tuscany before the world discovered it. Sublime wines are made in a stunning setting.

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Author

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With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has written for a wide variety of publications, including The Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers Wine & Spirit, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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