Today we have a very special post; we travel to Rioja region, specifically, to La Rioja Alta to interview the David Moreno winery, recently awarded as the best winery open to tourism in 2016. We will see what were its origins, what types of grapes they grow, what are the activities they carry out, in short, we will delve into it to know it a little better. Will you join us?
Where is the David Moreno winery located and what were its origins?
ORIGINS OF THE DAVID MORENO WINERY
In 1963 David Moreno’s family moved from Rioja to Barcelona looking for a better future than the agricultural villages of that time. At the end of 1981 David Moreno decided to leave his job as a Technical Engineer at SEAT to return to his village, put into practice the wine knowledge that his grandfather and father had passed on to him and make his DREAM of becoming a winemaker come true.
In 1988 he began the construction of the current winery, which has been expanded little by little, adapting to our growth, to new technologies and to the needs of our customers.
The winery and vineyards are located in Badarán, in the Rioja Alta area, at an altitude of 650 m above sea level.
TYPES OF GRAPES AND WINES OF DAVID MORENO
What grape varieties are grown for both whites and reds?
In this area of La Rioja Alta we grow mainly 2 black varieties (Tempranillo, Garnacha) and one white (Viura). We are fortunate to have very old Garnacha vineyards which provide great quality to our wines.
What wines do you currently have in the winery?
We produce a wide range of wines under the brands David Moreno and Monasterio de Yuso:
- Young wines (White, Rosé and Red).
- Crianza, Reservas and Grandes Reservas
- Signature Wines: Vobiscum and Don Bildur.
The tasting notes of all the wines can be consulted here.
What kind of activities do you carry out in the winery open to the public and who are they aimed at?
The location of the winery, close to the San Millán Monasteries (6 km away), a World Heritage Site, makes it a must for cultural and wine tourism in the area. Bodegas David Moreno is today one of the most visited wineries in La Rioja with more than 25,000 visits during 2015.
Wine tourism awards received:
- Best Winery Open to Tourism 2016. ACEVIN
- Best Of Wine Tourism 2011. Network of wine capitals.
Activities:
- Guided tours (Standard and Premium)
- Visit-Experience in the winery “Coupage de Barricas” and in the vineyard “Ruta senderista Los 3 Guardaviñas”.
- Wine Guard Moments. Private and personalized program with lunch served in the vineyard, inside the vineyard guard.
- Vincana, the wine gymkhana.
- Dining in the cellar between barrels in our Restaurant integrated into the subway cellars.
- Wine Club. You can have your own personalized barrel and enjoy the private space “The transparent rooms of the Club”.
- Harvest Days (September and October).
- Wine store. In addition to our wines, visitors can buy local gastronomic products, books and handicrafts.
With the exception of the Harvest Days that take place in September and October, the rest of the visits and experiences take place all year round with previous reservation. The activities are designed for all types of tourism: family, friends, couples, company incentives, etc.
Is there a possibility of gastronomic experiences with local products?
Yes, all experiences, both in the winery and in the vineyard, include an appetizer with local products (sausages, cheese, oil and bread).
Also eating in the winery; all the menus are prepared with high quality products from La Rioja.
What are David Moreno’s prospects for the coming years?
To continue improving our wine tourism by creating and developing other innovative experiences to attract wine tourists who are looking for an experience beyond the guided visit to a winery. Wine lovers looking to immerse themselves in the landscape and get to know the region through its wines, gastronomy and “paisanaje”. This is how we understand quality wine tourism and we are already working on new projects aimed at family tourism, groups of friends and incentive trips for small groups.
