Eguíluz Rioja Alavesa Joven '25

The ultimate summer red from Rioja is finally here!

This past March, I had the pleasure of returning to Rioja, where I visited several wineries of varying size and notoriety.

I was particularly excited to visit a group of wineries whose wines were going to be represented in the Chicago market for the first time. Among them was Eguíluz, where I met with Israel Eguíluz, recently named “Young Winemaker of the Year” by Master of Wine Tim Atkin.

Bodegas Eguíluz is a small, grower-owned Rioja estate located in the village of Ábalos, in the Rioja Alta subregion. It was established in 1982 as a traditional cosechero, producing only wines made through carbonic maceration. Eventually, Javier took over the business from his brothers, and today, with his son Israel serving as head winemaker, the family farms 22 hectares and produces around 120,000 bottles annually. They farm 14 hectares in their home village of Ábalos, with the remaining eight hectares located in nearby Labastida. The vines were planted between 1941 and 2007, with the majority dating to the 1970s and 1980s.

The winery produces an incredible range of both white and red wines, including several special, age-worthy single-vineyard bottlings. It is rare when visiting a winery that the “everyday value” wine is among the most exciting bottles I taste. Such was the case at Eguíluz, which brings us to today’s featured wine.

This delicious Rioja Tinto offers a glimpse into the traditional wine of the house. It is a young red made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Viura, the region’s local white grape, and 5% Garnacha. The wine is handcrafted in open concrete vats, with the grapes moved by gravity and kept as intact as possible to achieve a purer carbonic maceration. Traditional foot treading is then used to obtain a gentler, more delicate extraction. Only the finest portion of the vat, known as the “heart” or “seed” wine, is selected for this bottling.

This energetic red should be your go-to wine for summer BBQs and picnics. Give it a slight chill and enjoy its beautiful notes of blackberry, dark cherry, cracked pepper, and hints of licorice. It is bright and juicy on the palate, with just a touch of tannin and a fresh, lively finish. Wine does not always need to be “serious” to be enjoyed, and this traditional Rioja red is proof positive.