Founded in 1877 by Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, family-owned Bodegas López de Heredia (LDH) remains one of Rioja’s most revered wineries. Situated near Haro’s railway station, the bodega has played a foundational role in Rioja’s modern wine industry, blending tradition with innovation.
Unusually for Rioja, LDH produces wines exclusively from their 170 hectares of estate vineyards across four iconic sites: Tondonia, Bosconia, Cubillo, and Gravonia. These alluvial, riverbank vineyards straddle Rioja Alta and Alavesa, and their gnarled, century-old vines yield complex, low-yield fruit. Red varieties include Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, and Mazuelo, while Viura and Malvasia dominate their whites.
LDH’s commitment to sustainability is unspoken but evident. They’ve never adopted widespread chemical farming, instead maintaining methods Don Rafael would recognize today. The bodega itself, a "cathedral of wine," features an onsite cooperage where barrels are aged for three years before use, ensuring a subtle oak influence that complements rather than dominates the wines.
Wines are aged far beyond legal requirements, released only when they are deemed ready. Their range includes Cubillo Crianza, a richly complex red; Bosconia Reserva, with a nod to Burgundy’s elegance; and the scarce Gran Reservas, aged up to 20 years. Tondonia, their largest vineyard, produces reds and whites with remarkable freshness and depth, exemplified in their Reserva and Gran Reserva.
LDH’s whites, especially Viña Gravonia and the Tondonia Blancos, offer an oxidative style revered for their intricate, food-friendly profiles. These wines are a testament to patience, tradition, and excellence in Rioja.
