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Amaren Winery Guide
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Last updated: August 5, 2024
Winery Overview
The concept of Bodegas Amaren is in honor of the wife of Luis Cañas and mother of Juan Luis, from Bodegas Luis Cañas. In 1995, Juan Luis Cañas explored the possibilities of making a new style of wine, contrasting with his traditional estate. This wine would express to the maximum the personality of Tempranillo, particularly from various parcels of old vines. Unfortunately, his mother, Angeles, passed away at this time, so he dedicated his new creation to his late mother, Amaren Reserva Tempranillo, in 1995. From here, the name Amaren came about, meaning “from the mother” in Euskadi. Juan Luis’s tribute to his mother continued with the creation of the winery, and in 2016, Bodegas Amaren was completed and located in Samaniego, Rioja Alavesa, with 65 hectares of old vines aged between 35 and 110 years old. The location, vines, terroir, microclimate, and vinification processes all play a key role in the craftsmanship of these select wines.
They proudly apply “rational viticulture,” a mix of organic and sustainable practices, with the utmost care to treat the land as naturally as possible. Healthy vines produce healthy wines, without a doubt. Further linking the story back to his mother, Juan Luis chooses to use concrete vats (typically used in Angeles days), protecting the wines from thermic variations and encouraging maximum fruit extraction.
Another glistening jewel in the Amaren crown is the presence of old Viura and Malvasia within the red varietal plots. From these, Juan Luis produces Amaren Barrel Fermented White, perfectly structured with excellent aromatic potential – a truly great white wine. Amaren is an idyllic mix of history and traditional methods complemented with modern technological improvements, producing magnificent fine wines in the utterly beautiful village of Samaniego. You can taste the individual varieties straight from the barrel, prepare the blend, and then compare how they fare from bottle aging. Amaren is new on the Rioja Alavesa map, but it is certainly one to be watched.
Wines produced
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Amaren Barrel Fermented
85% Viura, 15% Malvasia. Fermented in new French oak barrels. Aged for 8 months. Limited production from vines within the red varieties, from parcels of high altitude and poor soils. -
Amaren Tempranillo & Garnacha Crianza
85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha. Fermented in oak vats. Aged for 12 months in 50% new American oak and 50% second year French oak barrels. From vines of an average age of 35 years. The touch of Garnacha adds freshness and red fruits to the elegance and characteristic Tempranillo. -
Angeles de Amaren
85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano. Both varieties go through malo-lactic fermentation in new French and American Oak barrels. Aged for 16 months in 50% French and 50% American oak. Produced from vines that represent the essence of the area; rich fruit from the Tempranillo and the complex character of Graciano. -
Amaren Tempranillo Reserva 60
100% Tempranillo. From vines over 60 years old. Malo-lactic fermentation in new French oak barrels. Aged for 18 months in new French Oak. Elegant and complex with rich dark fruits.
Winery Contact Details
Amaren
Bodegas AmarenCtra. Villabuena Nº 3
01307 Samaniego, La Rioja
Email: [email protected]
Tel + 34 945 17 52 40
Fax Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
La Rioja
Founded
2009
Area under Vine
65 Hectares
Age of vines
45 years+
Oak barrel origin
French and American
Winemaker
Fidel Fernández and Juan Luis Cañas
Owner
Bodegas Luis Cañas
Production
200,000 bottles
Grape varietals
Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Viura, Malvasia
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Malvasía de Rioja
Explore the allure of Malvasía de Rioja grape. Uncover its origins, tasting notes, and its contribution to the exquisite wines of Rioja.
Find out more -
Viura
Discover Viura: Rioja's Prominent White Grape & Catalonia's Macabeo. Explore its versatility in exquisite wines. A must-read for wine enthusiasts.
Find out more -
Garnacha
Garnacha: Spain's Red Gem. Akin to Pinot Noir, it bridges terroir and winemaking, crafting captivating expressions.
Find out more -
Graciano
is a red grape variety that is primarily grown in Spain's Rioja region. Known for its thick skins, small berries, and low yields, this grape produces wines that are deeply colored, highly tannic, and full-bodied, with a range of aromas from dark fruit to spices and leather
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Tempranillo
Discover Tempranillo: Spain's iconic red grape. From Ribera del Duero to Toro, it yields concentrated wines. Explore its synonyms and unleash its prowess.
Find out more
Winery Appellations
Author
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More information
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