The winery was founded in 1969 by a group of winegrowers from Elciego in the Rioja Alavesa region. Originally named Cepas de Elciego, it later became Larrea Rabanera y Cía. Following the arrival of new investors in 1978, it adopted its current name. In 1998, Vila Salceda was acquired by the Chivite family from Navarra and in 2017, ownership changed hands once again when the Catalan group Perelada bought Chivite's wine assets.
Like most Rioja wine businesses established in the 1970s, Viña Salceda focused on the traditional ageing designations Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. The company also produced a premium Reserva, Conde de la Salceda, whose aristocratic name referred to the Rivas family, originally from Rioja Alavesa, who took part in the venture.
The range was restructured in 2023 following the arrival of David González, a winemaker with extensive experience in Rioja from his time at Gómez Cruzado.
Terroir-driven wines
A new lees-aged white has been added to the traditional range. However, González’s most significant contribution has been the creation of a newcollection of wines that showcase specific Rioja terroirs. Three reds have been released so far. La Rellanilla (€15) is a village wine sold under the name "Viñedo en Laguardia" (vineyard in Laguardia) that echoes the fruit-driven style of traditional Rioja Alavesa cosechero wines. Made from Tempranillo, it is aged for no more than six months, mostly in concrete, and just 30% in foudre.
The Alto Najerilla Valley, an area of red, ferrous clay soils on the right bank of the Ebro River, is represented by Cabezaparda (€38). This single-varietal, old-vine Garnacha is sourced from the villages of Badarán, Cordovín and Cárdenas, and is fermented with a small amount of stems. The result is a fragrant, juicy wine that remains firm and slightly earthy. The Sonsierra region, dominated by clay-calcareous soils, yields a more structured red with ageing potential.
Pico Palomares (€45) is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano made from grapes grown on the foothills of Sierra Cantabria, on the left bank of the Ebro, in villages such as Labastida, San Vicente, Ábalos, Baños de Ebro, Laguardia and Elvillar. Only the best grapes from a selection of 15 vineyards with white soils are chosen for each new vintage. Deep and elegant, the wine shows notable freshness thanks to the contribution of Graciano.
These two wines are named after well-known peaks in the region: the first refers to Sierra de la Demanda, which marks the southern boundary of DOCa Rioja, while the second takes its name from Sierra Cantabria, defining its northern border. The range of terroir-driven wines will be eventually completed with a white wine that is still in the pipeline.
Viña Salceda sources grapes from around 150 hectares of vineyards, including its own, rented plots and grapes purchased from suppliers. Its estate vineyards include the 25 hectares surrounding the winery, as well as a 6.5-hectare site in Laguardia, where they produce La Rellanilla. Annual production is around 700,000 bottles.