Gran Cerdo Tempranillo, Rioja Alta, Spain

Cherry red with hints of purple the nose has primary aromas of fresh fruit; strawberries, raspberries, cherries and violets with a slightly earthy edge. On the palate there are clean mineral notes and herbaceous flavours with a hint of spice.

Ideal slightly chilled and would be awesome for warmer summer days! It is a fresh style of Rioja but outside of Rioja DOCa appellation. There is a reason for that as well as why they've decided to put a greedy pig on its label - ask us for more detail!

Food Match: Roast pork and chicken, sun-dried tomato dishes, hake

Wine Facts:

Read more about no sulphites added wine labelling here (short read). Find out more about differences between organic, vegan and natural wines here (long read).

Gonzalo Gonzalo was born in Logroño, Spain and grew up among the vineyards that his parents cultivated in Fuenmayor. After studying biology in León and oenology in the University of Rioja, he dedicated himself to travelling through France and Italy where he met small vine-growers and winemakers and discovered new varieties of grape and technologies. After completing his oenologist training in an industrial winery, in 2003 he abandoned everything to give birth to Orgullo, his personal oenology project.

Fiercely protective of the terroir of his family vineyards Gonzalo rejects market driven fashions, formulae, chemical treatments and conformism. Instead he has sought out his own methods with respect for the land, his vineyards, and the traditions of his forefathers. He balances this respect with formal training in the latest enological techniques and methods.

Gonzalo was profoundly influenced in his choice of viticultural methods by the fact that his father became seriously ill from years of daily exposure to high-spec chemical fertilisers and herbicides while tending their vineyards in the 1970s, when they were regarded as the panacea for all vineyard problems. It was not clear at the time that chemicals that were perfectly safe in small doses had significant harmful effects from cumulative, long term exposure. The soil itself suffered as well, losing its vitality as witnessed in the deadening of the biodiversity in the vineyard. Wild flowers, insects, earth worms, snails and the various organisms of the vineyard ecosystem were no longer present as they were even two generations ago.

The 100% Tempranillo vineyards were planted 35 years ago in an area between groves of trees along the Ebro River and Mount San Llorente in the heart of the Rioja Alta sub-zone. Gonzalo and his helpers tend the vines methodically, and with perfection in mind, year round and work only with the best grapes they can coax from the land. They also follow the lunar cycle in vineyard and the winery. In the end Gran Cerdo is all about the purest expression of fruit with whole bunch fermentation, no filtration, no stabilisation and minimal sulphur.