Fernando Remírez de Ganuza
Address: La Constitucion, s/n 01307 Samaniego, Alava (La Rioja)
Telephone: +34 945 609 022
Telephone: +34 945 622 188
fernando@remirezdeganuza.com
www.remirezdeganuza.com
Bodegas Fernando Remírez de Ganuza is perfectly, disguised in a small, sandstone pueblo called Sanmiego. With its sandstone walls, and modest wooden front door, it could easily pass as a quaint little home. But Fernando is far from conservative. In 1989, he slowly acquired the finest parcels of land as they came to market, whereby forming the solid foundation ones needs to make first rate wine. His goal was simple: to make the best wine in Rioja - a grand statement that one should not take lightly.
Now here’s where his passion to achieve this goal becomes more evident. Most people would: buy a bunch of equipment, hire a young enologist, buy second hand grapes and design a fancy label. Not Fernando. In his case, it went more like this:
- Either find the best vineyards with the best vines available or wait until they became available.
- Redesign all the winemaking equipment, so as to improve and innovate what already existed. Each tank, press and barrel is designed to his very own specifications.
- Cut no corners when it comes to harvesting by picking the grapes as each bunch comes to full maturity.
- Select incredible grapes - only the best for his premium blend. Going so far as to only use just the shoulders of the bunch. (Basically looking at the bunch as a triangle, he only selects the top half where the grapes are most concentrated for his premium blend.)
- Rotate his oak fermentation vessels every two years for new ones.
- Use his barrels only once for aging.
- Oh and the fancy label!
Currently, Fernando owns over 53 hectares of land and 850+ barrels. To continue reading about Ryan’s tour of Bodegas Fernando Remírez de Ganuza, click here.
Wines Produced: Trasnocho, Reserva, Fincas de Ganuza, Erre Punto R. Blanco, Erre Punto R.