Founded in 1877 by Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, Snr López established the legendary Tondonia vineyards on the alluvial slopes overlooking the River Ebro on the cusp of the Alta and Alavesa wine sub-regions. A visionary and a romantic, his aspirations were impressive – not just for his wines but architecturally as well. His family continue his legacy and spirit led by sisters Maria Jose & Mercedes and this is without question one of the great wineries not only of Spain but of the world. The Lopez de Heredia portfolio extends over four autonomous vineyard areas, of which Tondonia is both the largest and the most famous. The other three are Cubillo, Bosconia and Gravonia; each with distinctive terroir and aspect and differing grape composition and styles of wine. The estate has 170 hectares of vineyards with 124 in production. Wines are fermented in old wooden casks, often centenarian, and aged for a long period (as they always have been) including some years in one of the 14,000 + barrels in the labyrinth of cellars (over 6,000 square feet) under the winery that span out towards the banks of the Ebro River. Only American oak is used but as the winery has its own cooperage they purchase whole trees to split and age outside before making into barrels that are repaired and tended over their long lifespan. These neutral barrels impart minimal new oak flavours into their wines – essential when aging profiles much exceed the minimum span required. The most traditional of all wineries, their heritage and stability of process, people and supreme quality are a hallmark of each of their wines.
Bodegas R Lopez de Heredia Vina Gravonia Rioja Blanco Crianza 2016
13% abv
Slightly developed pale gold. Fresh and aromatic with beguiling complexity and development. Citrus twang with earthy macadamia and cashew tones creating a delcious tension of fruit and land. Fruity, layered and very fine. 100% Viura that spends 4 years in barrel in the legendary tunnel-like cellars of the winery that extend outot the bank of the River Ebro.
“2016 was a superb vintage in Rioja, and the 2016 Viña Gravonia Blanco, which has the cellar aroma that all the wines, especially the whites, have, due to the longer time the wines spend in barrel. The white vines in this vineyard are now 92 years old and their juice was fermented in old oak vats with indigenous yeasts. They explained, “We have never used selected yeasts.” It was matured in their well-seasoned American oak barrels for four years. It’s paler than any of the other whites, and it has a little less pungency, with very good freshness. It’s elegant, subtle, clean and ethereal. They had good yields and a good climatic year. 42,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2022. I give these wines a conservative drinking window, but they will probably last much longer.” 2025 – 2032
95 Points, Luis Guttierrez, The Wine Advocate, Feb 2024
The vineyard is 200 metres from the bodega and close to the banks of the river Ebro. Viña Zaconia has an altitude of 340 m, and the average age of vines is 45 years. The south-facing slopes are poor and stony, and roots are forced to go deep – hence grapes have balanced biological composition and ripen with complex flavours. The white soils help obtain a good tonality for white grapes. Viña Gravonia covers 24 ha, all of which are under Viura vines.
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2016 | Bodegas R Lopez de Heredia | Duty Paid | Europe | Macabeo (Viura) | Rioja | Spain | Still | White | Wine- Reference #:
- 22917
- Strength
- 13 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Grapes
- Macabeo (Viura)
- Organic
- No
- Biodynamic
- No
- Vegan
- No
- Vegetarian
- No
- Sparkling
- No

