Ramon Bilbao gets a new look

Bodegas Ramón Bilbao will unveil a new look for its Viñedos de Altura Tempranillo/Garnacha blend at the Wines from Spain tasting in London today.

Keen to push viticultural boundaries in Rioja, chief winemaker Rodolfo Bastida focuses on vineyards at 700 metres altitude at opposite ends of the region for the blend.

The Tempranillo is sourced from vines in Abalos in Rioja Alta and the Garnacha hails from La Pedriza in Rioja Baja – the £13.99 wine is a blend of equal parts Tempranillo and Garnacha.

The new label pays homage to the adventurous spirit of the estate’s founder, Ramon Bilbao, in the 1920s.

“Viñedos de Altura shows that we are always looking at our region with fresh eyes: on paper, grapes from two very different terroirs in different areas of Rioja, but in practice with a major unifying factor – altitude – to bring freshness and elegance to the wine,” said Ramon Bilbao’s UK manager Kirsty Loftus.

“This is a bold move for a traditional wine region and the new label, with its red and black colour scheme, is a daring design to echo this,” she added.

Last month, Ramón Bilbao teamed up with Enotria&Coe to take its portfolio to the UK on and off-trade.

Established in Haro in 1924, family-owned Ramón Bilbao is both the number one Rioja brand in the Spanish on-trade with a 7.8% market share, and one of the fastest growing Rioja brands in the off-trade.

Rioja-born Rodolfo Bastida sources grapes from 240 hectares of owned vineyards, with access to a further 700 hectares via long-term grower contracts.

Bastida is keen for grapes he selects to speak for themselves rather than be masked by oak. His aim is to make wines that reflect their origins.