Against all expectations and defying a climate of uncertainty (and a certain degree of pessimism) that spread across the D.O.Ca. Rioja, the 2025 harvest has come to an end in our wineries with a balance as surprising as it is encouraging.
The forecasts were far from optimistic: hailstorms and the high pressure of downy mildew throughout the growing cycle made this harvest one of the most challenging in recent years. However, nature chose to show its best side at the decisive moment. The extraordinary weather during the harvest month —dry, sunny and with remarkable temperature contrasts between day and night— allowed us to obtain grapes of exceptional quality, enabling us to say, without exaggeration, that this is one of the finest vintages of the 21st century in the vineyards of La Rioja Alta, S.A. and Torre de Oña.
Our review of this campaign begins with the first of our wineries to start harvesting, Lagar de Fornelos in Galicia. Harvest began unusually early, on August 22nd in our Silvosa plot (El Rosal) and continued until September 15th, when we finished in Viñadeiro (Cambados). The dry and sunny summer led to an optimal state of health and ripening in the vineyard, and starting so early allowed us to avoid the mid-September rains. The balance is excellent: a highly satisfactory harvest in both quality and quantity.
We then move to Áster, in Ribera del Duero, where the harvest took place between September 25th and October 4th in a perfect climatic setting: sunny days, cold nights, and thermal contrasts that favored full phenolic maturity. On several mornings, the vineyard was on the verge of frost. Throughout the cycle, the vines remained in impeccable health, the result of excellent management against mildew and of a rainy winter and spring that ensured balanced growth. The result: grapes of extraordinary quality, which promise wines of remarkable structure and elegance.
Our journey concludes in the vineyards of La Rioja Alta, S.A. (Rioja Alta) and Torre de Oña (Rioja Alavesa), where the campaign was a true challenge. Hailstorms and the intense pressure of downy mildew affected around 70% of the vineyard surface to varying degrees. Nevertheless, through constant effort in vineyard care and disease control —together with magnificent weather in the weeks leading up to and during harvest— we managed to collect healthy, balanced grapes with full ripeness.
Although yields were somewhat lower than usual, the quality of the fruit makes this vintage one of the most promising of the century.
The 2025 harvest leaves us with an important lesson: patience, dedication, and trust in nature remain our greatest allies. Thanks to the tireless work of our teams in both vineyard and winery (congratulations to everyone!) and to a stable and generous end of the growing season, we have beaten the odds and confirmed that, even in the most difficult years, the vineyard always has the final word.
