2016 Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gravonia Blanco

López de Heredia stands as a consistent reference within Rioja. The family estate has worked since 1877 with a focus on long ageing, strict selection and controlled cellar methods. Every wine results from patience and experience. This approach delivers tension, clarity and structure.

López de Heredia winery in Rioja

In the 19th century, French merchants travelled through the region to find grapes for their own production. Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta took over their vineyards and recognised the potential of the area. He saw that the climate and the soil offered ideal conditions for quality wine. In 1877 he founded the winery in Haro. The estate grew through consistent care for each vineyard. This mindset remains visible in all cuvées. The wines belong to the leading wines of Rioja.

López de Heredia Viña Tondonia is the oldest winery in Haro and one of the first four producers in La Rioja. Strategic locations, strong vineyard parcels and fitting grape varieties result in wines with a clear profile. These wines remain important references within Spanish wine culture.

The most famous vineyard is Tondonia. It lies along the Ebro and spans around one hundred hectares. The name refers to the river bend where the vineyard sits. The estate also owns Viña Cubillo, Viña Bosconia and Viña Gravonia in Rioja Alta. Each parcel contributes fruit with its own character.

López de Heredia vineyards and grape varieties

Vineyards around Haro combine clay, limestone and river deposits. Summers stay warm with cool nights. This balance preserves tension in the fruit. Red wines rely on Tempranillo supported by Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. White wines use Viura as the base, complemented by Malvasia. This combination delivers freshness, length and stability.

López de Heredia vinification and ageing

The cellar forms an essential part of the estate. An in-house cooperage maintains every barrel. This ensures full control over wood quality. Fermentation takes place in traditional vats. Ageing occurs in old American oak. Red wines remain three to six years in barrels. White wines follow similar timelines. After bottling, the wines continue ageing for many years in the cellar.

Style of López de Heredia wines

Red wines show a lean structure, soft tannins and bright acidity. Aromas include red fruit, dried herbs and light oak tones. White wines combine fresh acidity with oxidative depth. Rosado stands as a separate style. Viña Tondonia Rosado spends long periods in barrel and bottle and shows notable complexity.

López de Heredia Viña Tondonia and other cuvées

Viña Tondonia Reserva remains a stable reference within Rioja. The fruit comes from the vineyard along the Ebro. Viña Bosconia Reserva gives fuller aromas and warmer tones. Gran Reservas age longer in barrel and bottle. Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva uses Viura and Malvasia with extended ageing. Blanco Gran Reserva appears only in strong years.

López de Heredia vineyard work

Soil health forms the foundation of the estate. Natural ground cover, manual pruning and careful selection result in healthy fruit. This approach ensures clear expression and stable profiles in all wines.

Some Facts about López de Heredia

The family keeps original documents in which Don Rafael recorded every cellar movement. The cooperage has maintained all barrels for more than a century. Several fermentation vats have stood in the cellar since the 19th century and remain in use. A dedicated room stores labels and capsules from all periods. The estate holds bottles from nearly every vintage since the beginning. Viña Tondonia Rosado once disappeared from the market and returned due to requests from wine lovers.