Senorio de Librares, Rioja Blanco 2024

Sisters Clara and Patricia Espinosa are slowly building a reputation for artisanal Riojas that are unrivalled in terms of flavour and value for money. For years now they have been breathing new life into their family’s historic bodega, Senorio de Librares.

The Espinosas have cultivated top quality fruit in Rioja Baja for more than 150 years – the sisters great-great-grandfather Pedro back in his days won the first prize for his wines at the 1878 Paris World Fair. So in terms of Rioja and winemaking there is some real pedigree here.

In contrast to some of the region’s big brands, Clara and Patricia eschew the use of international varieties and bought-in fruit, farming 10ha of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, and Viura around the town of El Villar de Arnedo. With organic viticulture at play and a tradition-meets-modernity approach to winemaking, they craft characterful wines that excel in every aspect and showcase a traditional region in a very different style. This is a true taste of the regions new avantgarde.