Explore the beautiful Rioja Alta wine region in northern Spain. Discover the best wineries, restaurants, and attractions in our comprehensive guide. Plan your trip today! Read more
Castillo Cuzcurrita Winery Guide
EXPLORE ALL OUR RECOMMENDED SPANISH WINERIES
Last updated: November 22, 2023
Winery Overview
The remarkable Rioja wine estate Bodegas Castillo de Cuzcurrita in the small Riojan pueblo of Cuzcurrita has emerged as one of the new-wave benchmarks of the region. This historic property eschews local traditions in favor of a thoroughly modern and yet respectful approach to winemaking. Legendary oenologist Ana Martin Onzain, aided by the estate’s manager Juan Diez del Corral Ugarte, has shown the tremendous character and individualism that can be wrought from 100% Tempranillo-based wines. Unlike most of her neighbors, Ana Martin does not blend in other grape varieties into her wines, instead preferring to bring Tempranillo to its fullest and finest expression.
Castillo de Cuzcurrita is a contradiction in the region, a relatively new name in modern Rioja production that boasts a history dating back to the 14th century. The Suarez-Figeroa family built the medieval, fairy-tale castle that stands proudly today adjacent to the winery rose garden and vineyards between the 14th and 15th centuries. It then passed to the Velasco-Rojas family through marriage; subsequent generations kept control of the castle and its beautiful surroundings until the last century when it changed hands several times. However, in 1945 Castillo de Cuzcurrita caught the eye of the wealthy Sáinz de Incháustegui family, who quickly restored the then-dilapidated buildings and made the castle their stately home.
Today, Castillo de Cuzcurrita offers two splendid wines, preferring not to rely on the traditional Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva classification system. Of course, the regular bottling Senorio de Cuzcurrita is always superb, but aficionados know that the real excitement is found in the rarer Cerrado de Castillo. Produced from old bush vines inside the castle walls, it is as much a monument to the potential of old vine Tempranillo as it is to Rioja. The 2008 vintage is a case in point: remarkably profound and complex, a wine that seduces with its potent aromatics and concentrated, intense palate—a truly exceptional example of modern-day Rioja.
Wines produced
-
2008 Castillo de Cuzcurrita Senorio de Cuzcurrita
100% Tempranillo. Fermented in stainless steel tanks, before being transferred to French oak for malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged on its lees in French oak for 12 months, before being transferred to bottle and aged for a further 24 months. Approachable on release, this wine will benefit from cellaring. -
2008 Castillo de Cuzcurrita Cerrado del Castillo
100% Tempranillo. Only produced in exceptional vintages, from old estate vineyards. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, before being transferred to French oak casks for malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged on its lees in French oak for 18 months before bottling. The prestige wine of the property, suitable for extended cellaring.
Winery Contact Details
Castillo Cuzcurrita
C/ San Sebastian 126214 Cuzcurrita de Rio Tiron
La Rioja, Spain
Email: [email protected]
Tel +34 941 328 022
Fax +34 941 301 620 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
La Rioja
Founded
1999
Area under Vine
25 hectares
Age of vines
Oak barrel origin
French barriques
Winemaker
Ana Martin Onzain
Owner
Bergé y Cía family
Production
72,000 bottles per year
Grape varietals
Tempranillo
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
-
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
Further Reading: Discover More Related Blog Content
More information
If you would like us to customize an exclusive luxury tour, contact us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of a mininium two guests. In addition, all of our private, chauffeured tours are available year-round upon request.
