Ramon Bilbao

Ramón Bilbao Murga founded this winery in 1924 in Haro, northern Spain, in the province of La Rioja. 

Ramón Bilbao - Rioja DOCa

Ramón Bilbao could hardly have imagined a more thankless start to the wine business in 1895. The phylloxera plague destroyed the vineyards in Rioja in 1899, but the young Ramón Bilbao nevertheless fulfilled his dream, regardless of all the ills. Success immediately proved him right. With newly planted vines in Haro and the great domestic demand for Rioja wine , the former department store rose with its own vines. From 1920 Ramón Bilbao also called a winery his own and thus laid the foundation for the future of the winery.

Rioja wine from Haro by Ramón Bilbao

The region of La Rioja is considered a traditional wine-growing area, at the latest after French farmers settled in the 19th century to produce wine according to the French model. This region is a paradise where Tempranillo in particular thrives. Rámon Bilbao currently owns about 265 hectares of vineyards, as well as about 900 hectares from long-standing collaborations with local winegrowers.

The takeover by the Diego Zamora Group in 1999 was particularly decisive for the Ramón Bilbao winery. Since then, oenologist Rodolfo Bastista has been responsible for the character of Ramón Bilbao's wines as head cellarer. He also developed new wine concepts and invested massively in new equipment, technology and a new barrique cellar. Today Ramón Bilbao stands as a renowned top Rioja winery best and reveals with fresh and elegant wines fruity pleasure.

The vineyards 

Vineyards up to 40 years old are owned by the Ramón Bilbao family estate near Haro. Most of them are planted with Tempranillo , but Garnacha, Maturana and white Tempranillo can also be found on the 205 hectares. The vineyard in Rueda D.O., which has been part of the estate since 2016 and is one of the best addresses for white wines in Spain, is also home to the Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties. The vineyards are located between 450 and 700 meters above sea level, so that the grapes ripen slowly and perfectly in a mild Atlantic climate. This gives Ramón Bilbao wines their intense and fresh character, elegant and old school, according to the philosophy of the winery. 

The 9 principles of Ramón Bilbao wine

1. Traditional ingredients and innovative methods
2. A fresh and elegant style with fruity wines
3. Innovations in vinification - development of new methods and precise viticulture
4. Slightly blackened French and American oak barrels used for a maximum of 5 years
5. Fresh wines due to higher vineyards
6. No clarification or filtration of the wine
7. Emphasis on terroir - unique wines from unique vineyards 
8. Integrated viticulture with 265 hectares plus 900 hectares of partner vineyards
9. Racking by gravity, respect for the wine

The winery has always worked according to these principles. Ramón Bilbao, however, is by no means stuck in the past, but has set his sights on the future and close-to-nature viticulture with a binding sustainability plan. The goals are ambitious, and in many cases have already been exceeded. The first winery in Spain to be certified by Wineries for Climate Protection Program, Ramón Bilbao is powered by its own solar panels. Water management, reduced emissions and a biodynamic approach in the vineyard round out the efforts.