La Rioja Alta

Más información sobre La Rioja Alta

Origin in Haro

1890

Five Rioja and Basque families founded the Sociedad Vinícola La Rioja Alta in the Barrio de la Estación in Haro, with the aim of producing high-quality wines inspired by the Bordeaux style. Among the founders, Saturnina García Cid y Gárate stands out as the company’s first president.

From its beginnings, the winery was established in a key location for the development of Rioja wine, at a time when the arrival of French winemaking techniques after phylloxera was driving a new era of quality in the region.

Historical consolidation and evolution

1904

Alfredo Ardanza promoted a merger with his own winery, marking a new phase of growth and the creation of commemorative wines that would later become iconic brands within the group.

1941

The company adopted its definitive name, La Rioja Alta, S.A., consolidating its identity within the Spanish wine sector.

1942

The Viña Ardanza trademark was registered, which would later become one of the winery’s most emblematic wines.

Expansion of brands and classical style

1970–1980

The winery developed a portfolio based on long ageing and classic Rioja elegance. Brands such as Viña Arana and Viña Alberdi emerged, along with the development of the Gran Reserva style that defines the house.

This period consolidated the group’s identity as a benchmark for structured, long-lived wines with a traditional profile, maintaining a strong commitment to quality over quantity.

Philosophy and winemaking approach

The philosophy of La Rioja Alta is based on a continuous pursuit of excellence, with special attention to estate vineyards, grape selection, and long ageing periods in oak barrels.

The style is characterised by elegant, balanced wines with great ageing potential, where oak is precisely integrated without overpowering the expression of the terroir.

Current structure of the group

Today, Grupo La Rioja Alta is a wine company with a presence in several Spanish appellations, maintaining its historic headquarters in Haro.

The group has expanded by incorporating other wineries, but still preserves its original core philosophy: artisanal production, long-aged wines, and a strong classical Rioja identity.

Iconic wines

Among its most renowned wines are:

• Gran Reserva 890
• Gran Reserva 904
• Viña Ardanza
• Viña Arana
• Viña Alberdi

These wines represent the classic style of the group and are considered international benchmarks in the category of high-end traditional Rioja.