Viña Ijalba offers ‘window’ into wine personalities with new labels

Organic winemaking champion Viña Ijalba from Rioja has unveiled new labels for four of its wines, which will be distributed starting from April, each offering “a window” into the personality of its respective vineyard, said Christina Gutierrez, the third generation of the family at the helm of the winery.

“Now we present our range of aged wines with a more serene, classic design; an elegant style that maintains the essence, colour and geometric character of the brand,” said Gutiérrez at a recent presentation joined by winemaker Pedro Salguero and wine critic José Peñín.

The four single variety wines are made from what the winery calls “minority vine varieties”, namely: Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Maturana Tinta and Graciano. The latter was the first single variety bottled wine of its kind in Rioja started by Viña Ijalba in 1995.

Claiming to be the first Rioja winery to market these varietal wines, Viña Ijalba works with La Rioja University, the DOCa Rioja Control Board and La Rioja Agricultural R&D Centre on the recovery of minority vine grapes, according to the winery.

In 2001, after some experimental vinifications, the first Maturana Blanca wine was put on the market. A year later, its Maturana Tinta was presented and, in 2006, the Tempranillo Blanco (arising from a natural genetic mutation of red Tempranillo) was released.

The winery converted 90 hectares of estate-owned vineyards to organic viticulture, the 1998 vintage was the first Rioja wine made under the control of the La Rioja Organic Agriculture Control Body.

At the presentation, the winery also introduced the 2017 Maturana Blanca and Ijalba Cuvée, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 10% Maturana Tinta) from the 2016 vintage.