Haro, at the end of the 19th century. It was a time when Rioja welcomed French winemakers from Bordeaux in search of grapes and wine to replace their own, which had been destroyed by phylloxera. The trade led to an exchange of knowledge that benefited both the local residents and the visitors. One of these Rioja winemakers was Felipe Ugalde, a curious character from Haro who, inspired by the experience of his French colleagues, decided that his goal should be to produce high-quality wines that would convey the values of Rioja’s terroir.
He founded the winery and original brand Bodegas Ugalde in 1882, which he expanded to other countries by also establishing the region’s first export alliance with other Rioja winemakers. He was a pioneer in Rioja wine exports, the first winemaker to promote sales in international markets. More than 130 years later, his legacy continues just ten kilometers from Logroño, with the first vineyards planted on the property.
Nestled between the northern bank of the Ebro River and the eastern foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria, the team at Bodegas Ugalde had to decide what type of wines they would produce. For this, they turned to history and were inspired by Ugalde’s vision in 1882: To bring Rioja’s terroir, as understood by the new team, into every bottle of Bodegas Ugalde.
With vineyards planted at various altitudes and on diverse soil types—clay, limestone, alluvial, and even some special saline soils with marked minerality—the team focused on conveying what these different terroirs express. At the same time, they took a giant step forward by exploring the potential of grape varieties, as well as the combination of vineyards located in very different terroirs on the property, and experimenting with unconventional Rioja blends.
Everything is done with the aim of allowing its fans to enjoy many different forms of Rioja. The pursuit of present and future milestones is the current vision of Bodegas Ugalde, in the same spirit that guided Felipe Ugalde’s steps in 1882. As is often the case, a good song remains a good song, no matter how many variations are made thereafter. But some new versions are even better.
