Discover the keys to a truly special vineyard in Torre de Oña! Here are ten reasons why the terroir of our winery in Páganos, in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, is a unique place with incredible potential to create exceptional wines. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of wine and discover the unique characteristics of this privileged land.

1. Sun exposure: Our vineyards face south, which means that they receive the sun's rays all day long, from sunrise to sunset. This radiation enables the vines to produce polyphenols, such as tannins and anthocyanins, which protect the grapes from the intensity of the sun. The polyphenols are passed onto the wine during winemaking, allowing it to age in barrels and in the bottle for long periods of time.
    
2. Altitude: The vineyards are located at altitudes surpassing 575 m (1900 ft) above sea level. This elevation makes for milder temperatures than in lower areas, and this is particularly beneficial for the Tempranillo variety, which is very sensitive to heat stress. The milder temperatures also allow for more complete ripening of the grapes, providing greater acidity and aromatic richness to our wines.
    
3. Sierra de Cantabria: This imposing mountain range protects us from the humid north winds coming from the Bay of Biscay. A Foehn wind comes down the slopes, creating favourable conditions for growing red grapes. Without this protection, the climate of the area would be more Atlantic and, hence, more suitable for growing white varieties.
    
4. Lithological: Beneath our vineyards are layers of sandstone, a sedimentary rock formed by river currents that transported sands from other areas. The sandstone acts as a physical barrier to the roots of the vines, limiting their depth and forcing them to seek out cracks and crevices to access deeper layers in search of moisture during the dry summers.
    
5. Terrain: Our vineyards sit on gentle slopes resulting from light erosion occurring with the passage of time and rain. This limits the depth of the soil and its water retention capability, making for ideal conditions to grow grapevines that maintain the right balance between vegetation and production.
    
6. Tempranillo variety: The star grape of our vineyards is perfectly adapted to the area. Clay-limestone soils combined with the mild climate allow the Tempranillo to express all its typicity and offer the best of itself in each bottle.
    
7. Vegetation: Our vineyards are located in a Mediterranean landscape. Kermes oaks, holm oaks, blackthorns, strawberry trees, thyme, rosemary and lavender adapt to the local conditions, which are also favourable for vines. Fortunately, these same conditions are adverse to fungi that could attack the grapevines and their fruit.
    
8. Soil depth: In general, our soils exhibit shallow depths, normally about 60 cm (24 in) and exceptionally reaching 80 cm (32 in). This limits moisture retention capacity, resulting in a vegetative growth balance free of excessive vigour. This allows for natural regulation of production, with loose clusters and smaller berry sizes, key factors in producing high quality red wines.
    

Soil composition: Our clay-limestone soils are typical for the area. They result in wines with a major aromatic load that are both robust and elegant at the same