Going against the grain and with no background in winemaking, this mechanical engineer left a secure job to grow vines from scratch and make wines with minimal intervention in a remote area of Huesca, northern Spain.

A tasting of all the wines produced by Viña Meín and Emilio Rojo since Alma Carraovejas bought them reveals the ambitious goals set for this new phase and the confidence of the new owners in Ribeiro's ability to age gracefully.

He has been involved in the wine business for only a decade, but his name is increasingly prominent among the producers to watch in Rioja, especially for his Garnacha Blanca wines.

The new vintages that this renowned Spanish group is set to release in the coming months confirm the trend towards elegant, less structured reds with finely textured palates.

The Callejo siblings, the second generation to run the winery founded by their parents, have embraced organic farming, shifted the focus of their wines and thoroughly explored the diversity of terroirs in Sotillo de la Ribera.

Perhaps more than in other regions, winegrowing in Bierzo is done on a human scale. José Antonio García Viticultor is an example of what a family can achieve by focusing on the quality and identity of its vineyards.

Born in Seville, but a globetrotter by nature, this producer and winemaker has settled in Cádiz to create very personal wines that reflect much of what he has learned during his life on different continents.

With barely six hectares under vine and fewer than 30,000 bottles, the company founded by partners Carlos Mazo and Isabel Ruiz is emerging in the 2022 vintage as one of the most interesting and finest voices in Rioja Oriental.

This winery is the result of the generous actions of the Alonso Galera family. They are committed to recovering the wine heritage of this remote area in León province and to rescuing vines that had fallen into oblivion.

In a small village in the mountains of Ávila, west of Madrid, oenologist Bárbara Requejo and her partner, chef Guzmán Sánchez, are building an inspiring project with old vine Garnacha and new plantings at high elevation.

The son of Rioja’s star winemaker Marcos Eguren, Eduardo left the Sierra Cantabria family group to start on his own focusing on limited-production, super premium single-vineyard wines from San Vicente de la Sonsierra.

Despite their own personal projects, Willy Pérez and Ramiro Ibáñez have found in De La Riva a place to delve deeper into the traditional wines of their region and to connect with increasingly passionate and knowledgeable sherry lovers.

Basque names are not easy to pronounce, but any Garnacha from Jon Aseginolaza and Pedro Leunda that you come across is synonymous with meticulous viticulture and wines capable of capturing the landscape.

With a new winemaker appointed in 2017 and half a century in business, this idyllic estate, part of the CVNE group, is working hard to meet the challenges of global warming, changing markets and the burgeoning state of the Rioja region.

His story and the twists and turns he has taken to make it in the wine business are almost as fascinating as his creations. Could this humble producer become Mallorca's next cult vigneron?

The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with an eye on the future. It has just inaugurated a state-of-the-art winery designed to make better wines, seems ready to embrace generational change and is keen to expand sales beyond Catalonia.

They started just seven years ago, but the project that José Gil and Vicky Fernández have built in San Vicente is one of Rioja's most interesting. Passion, intuition and a clear vision of the future are some of the keys to their success.

Nowadays, Málaga is often associated with the dry and sweet Moscatel-based whites from the rugged Axarquía region. But the famed wines of the past came from the mountains surrounding this coastal city, where Pedro Ximénez reigned supreme.

North of Lleida, in inland Catalonia, the recovery and transformation of a gravel pit into a vineyard has benefited from the recovery of some old plots that are a veritable repository of ancient grape varieties.

This female-led winery from Aragon eludes all the clichés usually associated with cooperatives. Their exporting drive and ability to forge alliances with powerful partners has resulted in a qualitative breakthrough.

With three hectares and upwards of 30 plots, Teresa López champions a brave project to bring back to life the old vines that once covered the slate slopes of the Casoio river valley, close to the border with Castilla y León.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the purchase of Vega Sicilia by the Álvarez family. Celebrations included an unforgettable vertical tasting of Único with a selection of vintages from 2013 to 1942.

A producer with family roots in La Mancha, Ortega bravely delves into the region’s cultural codes and historic wine styles making wines with the modest Airén variety in the region’s traditional tinajas.

This couple of veteran winemakers have set up their own bodega at home in Cuenca, central Spain, to produce the sort of wines they like to drink. Their first achievement: producing velvety reds from the Bobal variety.

With over seven centuries farming vineyards in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Mestres launched the first brut nature cava in 1945. Now, the 29th generation maintains the artisan tradition of the first bottlings and the classic character in its range of wines.

The Montilla-Moriles producer, who has created its own style of Pedro Ximénez wines, embarks on a new chapter with the arrival of a new generation who seeks to maintain Antonio Sánchez's tradition of craftsmanship but adapted to the 21st century.

Miguel Merino's story shows that there is no easy way to take the reins of a family winery. In fact, the toughest path can eventually lead to the most captivating wines.

The Poboleda-based producer organised an extensive vertical tasting of its three top reds, 1902, 1903 and Doix, dating back to 2001. It was a great chance to see their evolution and delve into the contrasting universes of Garnacha and Cariñena.

The Vidal family is a rara avis in Rueda. Based in the village of La Seca, the brother and sister team tend their vines in the traditional way and produce an impressive range of limited, single-vineyard wines that can age beautifully.

A beacon of modernity in Rioja in the 1990s, Remírez de Ganuza has significantly raised the quality of its white wines with the release of a Gran Reserva and is about to launch two elegant and refined reds.

They do not meet the definition of successful producers, but the Sanz brothers have accomplished something that few bodegas in humble areas do: To improve the perceived quality of Navarra wines and to attract top winemakers to create wines with them.

Despite its modest beginnings, this producer working outside the DO Rueda has become a flagship winery in barely a decade. Its success proves that there is room for small, terroir-focused wine businesses in this region.

A fascinating tasting with winemaker Gonzalo Iturriaga helped us to understand the complexity and nuances involved in the making of this legendary Ribera del Duero wine with ten years of ageing.

The release of Yjar, the first Rioja to be sold through the Place de Bordeaux shows the hard work done by Telmo Rodríguez since his return to Remelluri, the family’s property in Labastida.

Alberto Orte and Patrick Mata started selling Spanish wine in the US in 1999. Now they manage one of the most respected importing companies in the country and are immersed in the recovery of historic Andalusian varieties in their 16ha under vine in Jerez

Some wine producers obsessively pursue perfection. Sara Pérez is more interested in understanding the reality that surrounds her and capturing it in a glass of wine. But this often means thinking out of the box and taking risks.

The owners of Ontañón, one of the largest bodegas in Rioja, have recovered vineyards and caves in the Barrio de Bodegas in Quel to fulfill the dream of the patriarch, Gabriel Pérez, of making wines in his home village with the finest family grapes.

Since Pedro Ruiz Aragoneses took over the wine interests of the family group in 2007, the business has grown significatively with new wineries in Ribera del Duero, Galicia and Rioja, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a foundation.

In Fuente Álamo (Albacete, Murcia), the fourth generation of the Cerdán family is taking their vines of Airén and Monastrell to the next stage by bottling specific sites. Their new terroir-driven, beautifully presented wines are worth searching.

For many, he is just the nephew of Raúl Pérez, but one only needs to visit his winery in Valtuille de Abajo and delve a little deeper into his project to realise that César Márquez is carving his own path in this beautiful region of Spain’s northwe

With over two decades of experience under its belt, the producer who championed the treasure trove of extremely old vines from Soria, in Ribera del Duero's eastern end, keeps on exploring the potential of the fascinating Atauta Valley.

The winery in Samaniego owned by Luis Cañas Family is focused on old vineyards, the recovery of ancient varieties and single vineyard wines. Jon Cañas, 33, member of the third generation, and his experienced team, ensure that everything runs smoothly.

What difference could 50,000 bottles make in the ocean of wine in Castilla-La Mancha? For one thing, they explore the potential of the red Bobal and white Tardana varieties, and avoid the uprooting of vineyards with peculiar grapes such as Pintaíllo.

Beatriz Pérez and Pepe Flórez quit scientific research to grow vines on the slopes of Cangas del Narcea, an area whose winemaking tradition dates back to the 9th century. With a great deal of work, Bodega Vidas now produces eight wines from 16 plots.

'Albariño in large containers, and broth in small pots' is a saying that Rodri Méndez takes to heart in his whites but also in his reds made from traditional varieties in this coastal area of Galicia.

The pandemic has not dampened the excitement generated by the release of the first wine made in Jerez by the man behind Pingus. SWL met Peter Sisseck to learn more about his vision of the region, its terroir and the way he is handling his soleras.

For decades, the grapes grown on the spectacular estate owned by Ricardo Pérez Villota's family in Laserna were destined to make Contino wines. Now, Ricardo and his daughter Carmen have created a new and unique project on the banks of the Ebro River.

Perhaps not as well-known as other producers in the DO Bizkaiko Txakolina, Doniene is a veteran name in the area crafting pure, distinctive txakolis and successfully experimenting with niche wines.

He has been producing wine for a little over a decade, but Manuel "Chicho" Moldes is making steady progress in his efforts to bottle the diversity of soils and varieties of the Salnés region out of his small bodega-garage in the family home.

As consultants, Alexandra Schmedes, Margarita (May) Madrigal and Gonzalo Rodríguez are behind some well-known Spanish wines, but the ones they produce in Toledo are among the best in Castilla-La Mancha.

Individually they represent a tiny portion of Spanish wine, but united under this brand they were one of the success stories of the Barcelona Wine Week. Now they want to reach consumers more effectively while strengthening the association.

Spanish and international wine lovers who have visited Muga were probably in awe of the vast number of oak vats and barrels in this winery in Barrio de la Estación in Haro. But how many of them have had the chance to tour the vineyards?

Founded in 1905, this bodega lends its name to a wine business with 150 hectares of vineyards in the top quality area in the Montilla-Moriles appellation and with one of the finest collections of traditional wines in Andalucía.

Lalomba will soon be much more than a rosé from the foothills of Mount Yerga in Rioja Oriental. It will become a new single-vineyard brand with its own communication strategy and separate facilities where concrete will play a key role.

Violoncellist and winemaker, Julia Casado is a young, determined woman who has set up her own small project to make natural wines with Monastrell grown in Bullas, in southeast Spain.

Brothers Hernáiz have started 2020 with a revamp of their range of wines. At Finca La Emperatriz they have downsized from seven to four cuvées, with their two new premium wines adding the words ‘Gran Vino’ to their names.

Tastings like the one conducted by Felipe Gutiérrez de la Vega in Alicante last week do not occur every day. The life and interests of this great pioneer of the Southeast were presented in a remarkable collection of old vintages.

A flagship wine in Ribera del Duero, it has remained on the limelight from the very moment its was first released. What is the key to its success: the vineyards, the people, the style or a combination of all of them?

The evolution of Sandra Bravo (Sierra de Toloño) has been remarkable since she settled in Rioja in 2012. With sensitivity and humility, she works to convey the energy of the vines she grows in Villabuena and Rivas de Tereso to her eight wines.

After having made a name for the winery founded by his father in the 1980s, Pepe Mendoza has brought all his expertise on Mediterranean wines to Casa Agrícola, his most personal, fascinating project.

With 800 hectares under vine and brands like Valdespino, Real Tesoro and La Guita, Estévez is one of the leading wine producers in the Sherry Triangle. We spent a day with technical director Eduardo Ojeda to learn more about this family group.

The influential winemaker has teamed up with new partners to build a new winery for his entry-level red Ultreia Saint Jacques and is exploring new terroirs in DO Bierzo while keeping a watchful eye on the work he does in Valtuille, his village.

Tourist developments and golf courses dominate the skyline of this town on the coast of Cádiz, but there is still a producer bent on working the region's vines, recovering traditional varieties and producing quality wines that express the terroir.

After building a strong reputation for their Garnachas from Valdejalón and Campo de Borja, Fernando Mora MW and his partners have embarked on a very ambitious project: to recover what they claim is a grand cru lost in the Sierra de Algairén.

Although this producer from Cordovín is not a regular at wine tastings in Spain, it is behind a fine range of exciting wines, notably the local rosé called clarete and a bunch of highly original whites including the multi-vintage blend Añadas.

After almost 20 harvests in Soria, the easternmost part of Ribera del Duero, Bertrand Sourdais is the perfect host to take us through the landscapes of this isolated region with a striking wealth of old vineyards at high altitude.

Making honest wines that reflect the spectacular landscape and diversity of this island sculpted by the volcano is the goal of Vicente, Rayco, Carmelo, Chicho and the rest of grape growers who are part of this exciting new project in the Canary Islands.

Salvador Batlle arrived from Penedès with the idea of setting out on his own. In this area on the border with France, he came across vineyards of this local but underrated variety that he struggles to preserve as a distinctive trademark of Empordà.

Born into a traditional cosechero family, brothers Arturo and Kike de Miguel make original, honest wines from the 25 hectares of vines they own in Samaniego, Ábalos, San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Baños de Ebro, their village in Rioja Alavesa.

Francisco Barona, 34, is a young, passionate producer who is contributing to enhance diversity in Ribera del Duero by focusing on very old vines, traditional grape growing methods and a relentless search for freshness.

Their Reserva ranks among Rioja’s most enjoyable reds and the range of limited-production wines is impressive. Twenty years after its launch, Valenciso has managed to find its own place in Rioja eschewing trends and tags.

The obsession with the vineyard and the recovery of the wisdom and know-how that brought greatness to sherry is his driving force. In just two vintages, winemaker Willy Pérez and his Barajuela wines have become an avant-garde model based on tradition.

La Mancha, the largest wine region in the world, is all about quantity with bulk and commercial wines leading the way. Verum is a rare exception in the area, as it focuses on quality and terroir. We visited them to learn their experience first-hand.

Fate and Ramadan took architect Alejandro Muchada to David Léclapart’s estate in Champagne. Years later, they have joined forces to make white unfortified wines in Sanlúcar, in the heart of the Sherry Triangle.

After the success of Ossian, one of Spain’s flagship whites, Ismael Gozalo continues working with very old Verdejo vines in Nieva, his hometown in Segovia. Under the name Microbio Wines, he makes a wide range of natural, artisanal wines.

A prominent member of the Palacios saga of winemakers, Rafael is working hard to bring his vineyards in Galicia’s Bibei valley back to life after a devastating 2017 vintage as he prepares the launch of his first skin-contact wine.

Tucked away in Jumilla (southeast Spain), Casa Castillo is a leading exponent of Mediterranean reds: well-adapted grape varieties dry farming, traditional winemaking and terroir-driven wines. Why aren’t others following?

Miguel Ángel de Gregorio is in the news following the release of two new single-vineyard wines. But when SWL visited him recently, we talked about all the changes he is implementing in his vineyards.

Farmers —or mayetos, as they are known— growing vines and making their own wines are unusual in the region. The Blanco brothers champion the work in the vineyard and the character that terroir brings to their wines above the aging in the cellar.

Miguel Martínez is a young man on a mission to recover local traditions in Sojueja, his home village on the slopes of the Moncalvillo mountains south of Logroño. He has started by rescuing from oblivion an almost extinct sweet wine called supurao.

Valencian producer Finca Terrerazo showed the world how good the little loved local Bobal variety could be. Behind this achievement lies a painstaking process that the Sarrión family is applying to other vineyards.

After building Cillar de Silos into a safe, reliable brand in Ribera del Duero, the Aragón brothers have launched Dominio del Pidio, making traditional style village wines in the old bodega quarter of Quintana del Pidio.

A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable to see the oldest producer in Andalucía joining forces with a group of maverick winemakers. But after a satisfying partnership in Extremadura, Alvear and Envínate have renewed their entente in Montilla.

Fifth generation of a winegrowing family based on this island of The Canaries, Victoria Torres fights to preserve the vineyards of this Biosphere Reserve and bring a fresh look to her wines, which reflect the special place where they are born.

Almost in his 70s, Basilio Izquierdo is full of energy. After three decades in Cvne, he set up his own small wine business in 2007. Last month we attended a 10th anniversary party with other wine lovers and some of his famous classmates from Bordeaux

Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz love each other and love growing vines on the steep slopes of Porrera, one of Priorat’s most rugged landscapes. Their lives revolve around the vineyards and wines all year round.

Organic still wines and cavas that reflect terroir and vintage variations form the basis of this producer located just outside Barcelona. As well as natural wines, they are busy creating local varieties that are adapted to climate change.

Judging from the impressive old vineyards that Jorge Monzón has managed to assemble in his hometown of La Aguilera (Burgos) in just over a decade, Dominio del Águila could soon become one of Ribera del Duero’s shining stars.

Based in the subarea of Clariano, this producer has brought new hope and distinctiveness to the DO Valencia thanks to the recovery of Mandó, a local grape variety with a marked fresh profile, and an ancient underground cellar stocked with amphorae.

The old Verdejo vineyards found in Segovia are a new source of excitement for Marqués de Riscal’s project in Rueda. They form the backbone of the new top-of the-range Barón de Chirel white and add consistence to other Verdejos in the range.

There is a before and an after of the wines from Tenerife since the arrival of Suertes del Marqués. Their focus on native varieties grown on volcanic soils and devoid of unnecessary make-up have set the style of quality winemaking in the island.

Despite being the epitome of powerful Riberas, everything seems to happen easily at Viña Sastre. Extraction is not so much the style; instead, they look for naturally concentrated grapes sourced form some of the best –and oldest– vineyards in the DO

Over the course of two mornings we joined Jaume Gramona on a walk around his vineyards to learn about his newly discovered passion for biodynamics and, in a far more educational atmosphere, during a sparkling wines workshop he recently led in Madrid.

Sparkling wine production in the Sherry Triangle started in the 19th century, but some producers like Alba Viticultores in Sanlúcar are recovering the tradition, with a little help from the winegrowers for whom they demand recognition.

Despite the very few bottles made by this architect and wine enthusiast, the story of Javier is a great example of the recovery of old vineyards in Spain. His are in Quel, his birthplace in Rioja Baja.

Having trained as an economist, Alberto Nanclares never consciously planned to become a winegrower but he is now one of Rías Baixas most accomplished interpreters of the Albariño variety along with his business partner Silvia Prieto.

This young winemaker has managed to bring out the best of Bobal, a rustic and harsh variety, while recovering local grapes like Albilla and Moravia Agria in DO Manchuela. His work proves that there is hope beyond Castilla La Mancha’s dull wine image.

This family producer, which pioneered wines such the white Castillo de San Diego and the bottlings of manzanilla en rama, rescues old winemaking traditions and novel styles in an effort to renew itself while keeping the essence of Sanlúcar.

It’s now 25 years since the recuperation of the Abadía Retuerta estate vineyards in Sardón de Duero (Castilla y León). The winery celebrated the anniversary with a tasting of the first 1996 vintage, which proved to be in pretty good shape.

Carlos Esteva, the man behind Can Ràfols dels Caus, is a maverick producer. After almost 40 years of immersion in the Garraf terroir in Penedès, he culminates his work with a mammoth winery dug in the chalky rock that defines his wines.

Álvaro Palacios and Ricardo Pérez have proved that Bierzo deserves a place of pride among Spain’s most prominent wine regions. We visited the winery and the vineyards to discover what’s behind their captivating wines.

Easy-going and always willing to learn, Xurxo Alba is since 2006 the visible face of Albamar, a small family venture in Galicia’s Salnés Valley where Albariño grapes are let to express their freshest and most vibrant side.

After several years keeping a low profile, the García family recently released a white Mauro. Now they are set to launch their first Ribera del Duero and a top-of-the-range red in Toro.

If good wines are a reflection of the terroir where they come from, in the case of Quinta da Muradella they also evidence the personality of José Luis Mateo, an honest and humble winegrower who has single-handedly placed Monterrei on the wine world map.

A singular producer exclusively crafting long-aged, bone-dry vintage Cava, Recaredo is securing its future with new plantings that will give indigenous white grape Xarel.lo a major role in their wines.

Thanks to an enviable price positioning, almost 100 hectares of vineyards in Pesquera de Duero and the recent acquisition of a stake in Montecastro, Hacienda Monasterio emerges as one of the most solid producers in Ribera del Duero.

Inquisitive, dynamic and always willing to learn from the past, Ramiro Ibáñez is, despite his youth, a highly respected winemaker among sherry enthusiasts. What’s so special about this maverick born in Sanlúcar in the 1979 vintage?

A legendary producer based in Haro’s Barrio de la Estación, Cvne is living a sweet moment backed by awards and recognition. Nevertheless, CEO Víctor Urrutia is far from relaxed.

The founder was determined to overcome all kinds of difficulties to fulfill his dream of becoming a wine almacenista, so it is no surprise that this renowned sherry winery is managed by three women who excel at going against the tide.

Currently working many of the Carthusian’s historic vineyards, Cellers Scala Dei produces single-vineyard Garnacha wines from sites where monks were present 400 years ago.

The evolution of this wine in the past 25 years has been considerable thanks in no small part to producers like Itsasmendi, who are unashamedly trying to put txakoli on a level with other great white wines.

Which are the clues behind Pesquera’s unique reds? We visit Alejandro Fernández and talk to his friends and acquaintances to find out more about one of Ribera del Duero’s most uncompromising characters.

Meet these young winemakers on a mission: to highlight the quality and potential of old Garnacha vines from the central Spanish Gredos mountains. Their light yet deep and mineral reds are the antithesis of Tempranillo.

As this legendary Rioja winery marks its 125 anniversary, we delve into the history and winemaking behind its famous Gran Reservas.

An unusual and unique character, Emilio Rojo is behind one of the most sought after whites in Spain of which roughly 5,000 bottles are produced each year.

Vega Sicilia has been celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2014. We review the history of this legendary Spanish wine and ask owner Pablo Álvarez what has changed along the years.

Among its 3,200 casks, visitors can feel the efforts carried out by this winery to preserve tradition and the work of generations to maintain a style of wine, beyond fashion trends and business strategies.

Located on the outskirts of Logroño, this legendary Rioja winery has been closed to the public since 2005, immersed in a comprehensive renovation of its historic buildings. The spectacular Ygay estate has finally reopened its doors to visitors.

It is not easy to stand out in Ribera del Duero, neither to commit to quality in times of recession but after 10 years of hard work, Viñedos Alonso del Yerro have made a name for themselves among the most distinguished brands in the appellation.

A pioneer in Rueda, Belondrade has celebrated its 20th anniversary uncorking wines dating back to 2001, thus showing an endless obsession with making the best possible Verdejo whites.