Torre del Conde de Hervias

• Site: Las Arenillas at 420m

• Grapes: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano

• Vine Age: Vines planted from 1864 to 1940

• Soil: Sand and clay calcareous

• Farming: Ecologic

• Vinification: Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel

• Aging: 16 months in new French oak

• Vegan: Yes

Conde de Hervías is a limited production Rioja Alavesa wine by Íñigo Manso de Zúñiga Ugartechea from two adjacent vineyards in the heart of Torremontalbo at 475m and on the right bank of the Ebro River. Íñigo only makes the Conde de Hervías in the best vintages, and in minimal quantities. The oldest part of the vineyard is called Las Arenillas, one of the most famous pre-phylloxera sites in Rioja, with vines planted on their original rootstock in 1864 by Don Nicanor Manso de Zúñiga, the Count of Hervías, and his brother Don Victor Cruz, founder of the Rioja oenology station of Haro. To their amazement, the vines of the Las Arenillas vineyard survived the phylloxera epidemic due to the sandy nature of the soil. These vines were used in the replanting of Rioja following the phylloxera crisis. Íñigo utilizes the traditional bush training method for all of his vineyards, which helps preserve acidity and freshness in the wines and guard against heat damage. Conde de Hervías is produced from organically farmed grapes, of which roughly 90% are tempranillo, and 10% are graciano. Finally, the aging process is never hurried; Íñigo releases small quantities of each wine only when the time is right for each one to express its personality.