Making History for more than 100 years
In Haro, on the banks of the river Tirón, the second oldest winery in La Rioja was founded in 1870, with the objective of making and ageing quality wines using traditional methods together with newer Bordeaux ideas. That winery is Bodegas Rioja Santiago.

At the beginning of the century, when foreign markets were unknown to Rioja wines, the winery was already exporting considerable quantities of its wines to the rest of Europe. The philosophy that has surrounded the brands and its products for more than one hundred years has not changed: to simply produce the highest quality Rioja wines. The commitment continues, as does the investment in improved facilities, using the latest methods and offering customers the best possible service.

In the beginning, 1870, the bodega belonged to the Santiago family. They were dedicated to the production of outstanding Rioja wines, and export to selected markets worldwide.

In 1997 the bodega was sold to the current owners. Along with some major winery remodeling, the cellars themselves were upgraded. They are very special places where one can find American oak barrels in a natural average temperature of 15 degrees, and a relative humidity of 70%. A new, two story bodega houses the bottling line and a laboratory that is instrumental in maintaining the highest standards of quality control.

Expert hands
If there is any land that was created for a specific purpose, it is La Rioja. Nature has given it a diversity of soils that allows the cultivation of different types of vineyards. A region set in the Ebro Valley, influenced by cold winds from the Demanda range, benefits from moderate temperatures and high rainfall. Harvests are generous in both the quantity and quality of the fruit.

The Pleasure of things well made.
In La Rioja, growing vines and ageing wines is much more than a reference or a prototype. It is the soul and tradition of a whole people. And at Bodegas Rioja Santiago there is a true persistence in fulfilling the commitment to continue, as has been done for more than one hundred years, making great wines by combining in the best possible way the elements that make them magical: Soil, Work, Time and Talent.

Noble and in oak
Harvesting, pressing, draining, decanting, racking, stabilising, filtering, fermenting, macerating, transforming, blending, ageing – these are more than agricultural or scientific terms, more than concepts. It is the daily task of the men and women who form Bodegas Rioja Santiago’s technical team, and who, along with the other departments, have made, aged and sold the current range of products for over a century.

In silence
There is no hurry. Time in the dark, gloomy cellars loses its precision and sense. Here, under this generous soil, the miracle of the ageing of Rioja wines takes place in respectful silence.

The wines acquire their final character in traditional 225 litre American Oaks barrels and in the lines of bottle racks. They are carefully prepared to fulfil their destiny when leaving the winery, which is none other than to delight the most demanding palates in every part of the world.