In the prestigious landscape of Rioja Alavesa, where terroir and legacy carry immense weight, few modern estates have established themselves as decisively as Bodegas Baigorri. Located in the village of Samaniego at the foot of the Cantabrian mountains, this family-owned winery has quickly become a definitive benchmark for gravity-led, sustainable winemaking in the region.

The winery itself is an architectural triumph, designed by the Basque architect Iñaki Aspiazu to facilitate a completely vertical, low-intervention process. This approach works in perfect harmony with their 55 hectares of estate vineyards, producing pristine wines that offer a clear reflection of the local clay-limestone soils.

Baigorri’s approach relies on meticulous gravity-flow mechanics, blending state-of-the-art design with a traditional, hands-off philosophy. The winemaking team avoids aggressive mechanical extraction to let the high-altitude fruit speak for itself. Their dedication to a holistic ecosystem has also earned them the distinction of being Spain’s first winery certified by both B Corp and FAIR’N GREEN.

Precision Through Gravity

The signature of a Baigorri wine comes from a vertical production system that prioritises fruit integrity and natural extraction over industrial manipulation.

• Gravity-Fed Vinification: The facility is built entirely underground across seven levels, allowing grapes, must, and wine to move solely via gravity. This eliminates the need for mechanical pumps, preventing rough extraction and preserving delicate fruit aromatics.

• Low-Intervention Practices: No commercial yeasts or enzymes are added during the vinification process. The wines undergo natural extraction, are neither fined nor filtered, and are entirely vegan certified to preserve the pure character of the Sonsierra.

• Old Vines and High Elevation: Sourced from vineyards sitting up to 650 metres above sea level, the fruit benefits from one of the coolest microclimates in Rioja. This altitude ensures a natural balance of concentrated dark fruit and vibrant, refreshing acidity.

Terroir-Driven Wines Across the Range

Baigorri delivers exceptional value across its entire selection, creating what many consider the most precise and expressive wines in Rioja Alavesa today. Their bottles consistently over-deliver in quality for their price, from vibrant, modern releases like Baigorri Negu to prestigious cellar masterpieces such as Baigorri De Garage.

The Modern Expressions

• Baigorri Negu: An elegant red made from 100% Tempranillo using both whole bunches and destemmed grapes. Short intracellular fermentation and four months in French oak vats yield a balanced wine featuring fresh currants, blackberries, and a clean balsamic finish.

• Baigorri Barrel Fermented White Rioja: A blend of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasía from old bush vines, aged on its fine lees for eight months in new French oak barrels. It is creamy and complex, balancing exotic fruit notes and mineral hints with a bright, integrated acidity.

The Core Classics

• Baigorri Rioja Crianza: Combining Tempranillo with classic regional blending varieties, this wine spends 14 months in oak. It offers a modern extraction of juicy dark fruits and wild berries, complemented by traditional, subtle notes of sweet spices and smooth tannins.

• Baigorri Rioja Reserva: Crafted from old vines over 45 years old, this 100% Tempranillo wine undergoes 18 months of ageing in new French oak barrels. It displays highly concentrated aromas of black fruits, ground coffee, and minerals, supported by silky tannins and a persistent, lively finish.

The Single-Plot Powerhouse

• Baigorri De Garage: Sourced from low-yielding old vines over 60 years old grown in meagre, stony soils at one of the coolest sites in Rioja. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats and aged for 24 months in new French oak, it delivers intensive black fruit and mineral complexities, fine-grained tannins, and an exceptionally long finish.

Ready to introduce these gravity-defying Riojas to your customers? Speak to your account manager to check current vintage availability, or to arrange a tasting of the sustainable Baigorri range.