After almost two years as part of the technical structure of La Rioja Alta, S.A., led by Julio Sáenz since 2005, Alejandro López now takes over the winemaking teams of Torre de Oña (Rioja Alavesa) and Áster (Ribera del Duero).
In 2018, the Vitoria-born winemaker was included by Pedro Ballesteros MW among Decanter magazine’s Top 10 Spanish revelation winemakers. He will bring his vision, experience and knowledge to these two Grupo La Rioja Alta, S.A. wineries. It is a challenge that López faces with "great enthusiasm and motivation" and with the aim of continuing "the great work done so far to show the best of two terroirs in such different locations." We are lucky to have our own magnificent estate-owned vineyards around each winery; both situated in strategic locations with different profiles. No two plots are alike, and this offers a tremendous range of possibilities. They are wineries where one can learn and enjoy oneself. Each area has its own personality and must be allowed to express itself." he points out.
At Torre de Oña, the winemaker considers that "our challenge is to manage its complex puzzle of soils, adapting ourselves to each area of the vineyard, a task that was carried out all these years by Julio Sáenz with very positive results and with results like Finca Martelo." In Áster, López has set himself the goal of "strengthening Finca El Otero's position as one of the best wines in Ribera del Duero, where the full potential of this vineyard is expressed and where we add smoothness and elegance to the fruit that is so characteristic of this plot."
Alejandro López (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1978) holds a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of La Rioja and in Agricultural Technical Engineering from the University of Navarre. He started his professional career working for the Government of La Rioja advising producers and winemakers on organic production. He complemented his training in wineries in Chile, Italy and the United States. Back in Spain, he worked in several Rioja wineries and joined Bodegas Bilbaínas in 2010, being appointed its Technical Director in 2016. In March 2019 he arrived in La Rioja Alta, S.A., joining the technical team of the Haro Station District winery.
