Buy La Rioja Alta at The Finest Bubble
La Rioja Alta, S.A. was established in 1890 in Haro, in the celebrated Rioja wine region of northern Spain. It was founded by five local growers who shared a vision of producing wines of structure, elegance and long-term aging potential — at a time when many Rioja wines were simpler and less age-worthy. In 1904, an early milestone came when one founder’s own winery (Ardanza) merged with La Rioja Alta; this union helped shape the winery’s identity and gave rise to iconic labels such as Gran Reserva 904. The name La Rioja Alta refers both to the winery and to the Rioja Alta subzone — the high altitude western part of the Rioja DOCa, long associated with high-quality Rioja wines.
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano vines. The company is renowned for the quality of its Reservas and in particular for its Gran Reservas, the 904 and the 890. The latter are produced only in exceptional years, are amongst the finest wines being produced in Rioja today. Gran Reserva 890 is named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta (1890). It is the non-plus-ultra of the family, a wine that slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, then is allowed to rest in bottle for a few more years before its released.
