What to do and see in Ollauri, La Rioja: The Best Wineries & Vineyards

The name Valenciso is an acronym of our founders last names: Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso. Both have been working in the riojan wine industry for 35 years, and it’s been 21 years since they made the decision to fulfill the dream of their lives: Bodegas Valenciso. A small riojan wine house of big prestige! We are currently in the process of turning ecological, after several years of practicing sustainable viticulture. If you visit us Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso will offer you their personal attention, and tell you why our Valenciso is a great rioja that surprises. We do visits in both Spanish, English and French! Our wines are elaborated in concrete tanks, before passing them over to French oak barrels, instead of the often-used American oak. All of our wines score over 90 points in the national as well as international guidebooks, and our reserva 2012 has been considered one of the best reservas in rioja by the admirable journalist Tim Atkin. Come visit and try for your self!

We are in the heart of Rioja Alta, a short distance away from Haro and Briones. Wine is deeply rooted in the history of our small village, as evidenced by its noble houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Churrumendi Hill, Ollauri's highest point, offers stunning views of the River Ebro valley, between the Sierra de la Demanda peaks and the limestone walls of Sierra Cantabria and Toloño mountain ranges. Today, with the Murúa family at the helm, Bodegas Ollauri-Conde de los Andes brings back an age-old tradition. It was in 1894 when Federico Paternina built the modern cellar where his ancestors had been making and storing wine since the 15th century. After successive changes in ownership that have marked recent decades, Julián and Javier Murúa have begun a new era.