Finca Valpiedra is a single Rioja Alta vineyard of spectacular quality – so good that the company decided to build a winery in the middle of it to look after its concentrated aromatic fruit. The 80-hectare estate is located on a meander in the river Ebro between Fuenmayor and Cenicero, on predominantly alluvial and pebbly soils. The three terraces of vineyards have a unique microclimate, retaining heat and humidity; the stones, “piedra”, greatly influence the quality of the wine. Here, the winery works more along the lines of a Bordeaux château than a typical Rioja bodega, and the estate is the only Rioja winery to be a member of Grandes Pagos de España – Great Single Estates of Spain. Cantos is a second wine that offers a youthful expression of this top-class terroir, whilst the Reserva contains a small percentage of Graciano and Maturana with ageing only in French oak barrels. Two recent additions to the range give further insight into this unique vineyard: Petra is a pure Garnacha, a rarity in this part of Rioja, while the Blanco Reserva is an extraordinary white blend, made from Viura vines over 120 years old, complemented by three other local varieties.