Marqués de Riscal settled in Rueda in 1972 under the conviction that the region had all the necessary elements to make quality white wines on a relatively high scale in Spain. Using cold temperature technology and stainless steel tanks, it introduced the fresh, fruity style that reigns in the white wines made in this DO. Its pioneering spirit was also applied in the vinification of the first Verdejo single varietal, new plantings of Sauvignon Blanc in the region and the first modern barrel-aged Verdejo.

Marqués de Riscal owns 230 hectares and controls another 300 to 350 hectares to produce around four million bottles of white wine plus 1.5 million bottles of red wine sold as VT Castilla y León. An extra 100 hectares of land have been recently acquired and will be converted into new plantings. All vineyards are organically farmed.

The founder's descendants still run the winery. Luis Hurtado de Amézaga oversees production in Rueda. One of the most noteworthy developments is the selection of a native yeast with optimum cold fermenting capacities, in force since the 2011 vintage. The premium whites, Finca Montico and, Marqués de Riscal Limousin are fermented with natural yeasts.

The wines

The most popular and large production label is Marqués de Riscal Verdejo (around €10 in Spain), which clearly reflects the character of the local Verdejo variety and demonstrates the area's capacity to produce white wines with an excellent QPR. On a similar price bracket (€12 in Spain) there is a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc which particularly shines on cold vintages.

Finca Montico (around €16) is fruity, lively and persistent. Launched in the 2000s, it is seen as the Rueda equivalent of the Rioja red Finca Torrea: a single vineyard wine which comes from a vineyard located on low-yielding (5,000 kg per hectare) gravelly soils in the village of La Seca.

Marqués de Riscal Limousin (€20) has undergone a considerable evolution in the latest years to become more delicate and harmonious. This has been achieved with shorter aging times and the introduction of larger oak vats (600 litres). This wine has also benefited from the inclusion in the blend of grapes sourced from very old vineyards in Segovia, in the south-eastern end of the appellation. With distinctive sandy soils, this phylloxera-free area has the largest concentration of old bush vines in Rueda.

In recent years, Riscal has strengthened its presence in Segovia. Particularly noteworthy is the purchase and planting of a property with over 20 hectares in one of the few areas with schist soils of this province.

According to Luis Hurtado de Amézaga, Verdejo from Segovia offers great volume on the palate and more acidity. That's why the winery decided to draw on some exceptionally old vines to launch a high-end Barón de Chirel white, beginning with the 2014 vintage. The wine, which did not carry the DO seal, was discontinued after a white Barón de Chirel from Rioja was released to mark the brand’s 40th anniversary.

The most recent release from Rueda is a Verdejo aged on its lees (€10), aimed at the on-trade.

Both Finca Montico and Limousin carry the seal of the new premium category Gran Vino de Rueda.