Vina Illusion Joven, Rioja, Spain

Organic red wine: a traditional Rioja Joven with no oak, but pure fruit.

Fresh style, bags of red berries and red fruit, pleasant acidity and vivacious nature. Uncomplicated, straightforward wine made with certified organic grapes (Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano). Medium bodied, not too heavy at all, will suit everyone who likes unoaked reds.

Food Match: It is a very flexible food wine: meat, cheese, vegetables, pasta, rice.

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).

Some interesting thoughts from the owner Martín:

“There is a saying that goes “I wanted to change the World, but nothing changed, I changed myself and everything changed”. I believe that really defines my organic philosophy”.

My whole life I’ve felt attracted to nature and country life. After too many years working with no fulfilment, at the age of 32 I managed to acquire some land where we built our home and where I started to cultivate a vineyard, olive trees, quince trees and other fruits trees, always being convinced that a healthy, loved and respected soil produces healthy fruits.

There, after some successes and some failures, but learning from my mistakes I developed a healthy vineyard based on green vegetables fertilizers, reusing the organic matter…, to achieve great results (a blend of eclectic methods according to Fukuoka, Jean Maria Roger and biodynamic theories)

The grapes we produce are taken to an organic winery where we make “Viña Ilusión”.

When I started to grow the vineyard this way, my farmer neighbours mistrusted my methods, but after many years they are starting to believe that this is a good way and they are changing their methods for the better. For example, Felipe, who now works with us, has transformed all his land and vineyard into organic agriculture.

The initial scepticism has transformed into unbridled enthusiasm.

Grapes: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 5% Graciano 

Harvest: Manual

Winery: Destemmed grapes, wild yeast ferment in s/steel. Some temperature control at fermentation but malolactic done with no temp control in tank

Light cold stabilization, very light filtration

Vegan friendly red wine

Use of sulphur- very little (free sulphur: 12 mg/l)

Style: Viña Ilusion: a joven (unoaked wine that is a throwback to the style of red Rioja drunk by our grand parents)