Bodegas Ramón Bilbao has been an impressive producer in Spanish wine region La Rioja since its foundation in 1924. They know how to create great wines, especially with grape variety tempranillo. We talk to winemaker Rodolfo Bastida who knows all the secrets of Rioja.
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What do you think characterises the wines from your region?
'Rioja is one of the richest wine regions in the world in terms of diversity in soils and rocks and (micro)climates. So at Ramón Bilbao, we can make wines with character, each giving a unique expression of the terroir. But as a common characteristic of Rioja wines, I would mention the refreshing acidity, which gives great potential for ageing. Also, the region as a whole is suitable for growing the world's most elegant tempranillo grapes.'
2.You have been working at Ramón Bilbao since 1999. What boundaries have been pushed since then?
'Because of our curiosity and focus on improvement, we are always pushing boundaries. For example, we now work with vineyards planted at altitude, in cooler locations, to manage climate change. We discovered new regions in Rioja, such as Cuzcurrita and Monte Yerga, to make our Límite range. In 1999 we were very focused on tempranillo, but now we are experiencing the great suitability of grenache in the region: initially with rosé wines, and more recently with elegant and delicate reds.'
2.b. We heard that you even deploy drones and weather stations to learn the DNA of the vineyard?
'We are now rediscovering our total vineyard, our heritage, to grasp its purest expression. Indeed, over the past 12 years we have studied all the elements from head to toe in order to select the most extraordinary plots. From this comes Ramón Bilbao's vineyard collection: Lalomba.'
Text: Marjolein Schuman | Image: Ramon Bilbao Haro
Further reading? You will find more information in WINELIFE Magazine, issue 88. You can order this here.
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