Remelluri is one of the biggest names in Rioja and is also packed with history, as Remelluri is also one of the oldest wineries in the region. The vineyards from which Remelluri today harvests the grapes for its great wines were already being cultivated by monks in the 10th century. The estate itself belonged to a monastery, which supplied wine for the first time on record in the 16th century. The real story of Remelluri begins in 1968, when Jaime Rodriguez acquired the estate. With his son Telmo Rodriguez, the star of one of the country's greatest oenologists also rose from Remelluri. He, who spent most of his childhood on this estate, trained in Bordeaux and later became one of the first "flying winemakers" in Spain, firing up various projects in Toro, Cigales and Rueda, for example. In 2010, he finally returned to his father's winery, together with his sister, a proven specialist in biodynamics. Today, Remelluri cultivates around 100 parcels spread over 3 valleys, all of which have subsequently been converted to traditional bush wine cultivation and, under this expert guidance, also to biodynamic cultivation. In addition, the winery has anticipated the French chateau principle, which means that, unlike many others, only grapes from its own vineyards are used in the wines. Telmo Rodriguez has also prescribed a relatively long maceration period for his wines, which results in a grippy but velvety, silky tannin structure. 90% of the wines are matured in French oak barrels. The entry-level wine, the "Lindes de Remelluri", comes from the younger vineyards, but already delivers such impressive quality that critics have given it high marks. The Reservas and Gran Reservas, each a cuvée of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano, are among the best that the Rioja region has to offer. And the white Rioja, an exciting blend of varieties such as Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, is one of the great white wines of the Iberian peninsula.
