Ontañón, Plinio El Viejo Rioja

Bodegas Ontañón is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental). The family`s vineyards sit high in the Sierra Yerga mountains in the prestigious region surroundin

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Bodegas Ontañón is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental). The family`s vineyards sit high in the Sierra Yerga mountains in the prestigious region surrounding Quel, defying misconceptions that Rioja Baja is one of the lesser sub-regions within Rioja.

Many of their vineyards are actually planted at altitudes on a par with, or above, those in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. La Pasada is their highest vineyard at 800m above sea level, planted in 1979 it is used for Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.

The hot and dry Mediterranean climate allows for consistent ripening of the grapes with little disease and this has enabled them to pursue organic production across 57 hectares of vines.

Currently run by the fifth generation of the Pérez Cuevas family to carry on the tradition of grape growing in the southern part of Rioja, they take great pride in maintaining their vineyards in the most sustainable manner possible as it is their land that supports their family’s craft. As well as farming organically and producing a range of organic wines, Bodegas Ontañón are certified with Wineries for Climate Protection.

A range of sustainable processes are employed in the vineyard and in the winery including; ontrolled irrigation systems to reduce water usage and evaporation; planting vineyards in cooler, well-ventilated areas in order to reduce irrigation requirements and phytosanitary treatments; using plant/grass cover in vineyards to improve soil texture, to reduce tractor working hours and to lower carbon dioxide emissions; using environmentally friendly phytosanitary products that break down quickly and harmlessly; planting several hectares of pine forest near the vineyards in Ausejo and tidying and maintaining the oak forest near the vineyards in Quel. They are a carbon neutral operation, meaning the facilities no longer emit CO2 to the atmosphere.The watering systems in the vineyards are supplied through solar power.