La Rioja Alta, S.A.

La Rioja Alta, S.A. is one of the historic wineries of the Barrio de la Estación in Haro, on avenida de Vizcaya. It makes long-aged wines, such as Viña Ardanza, Viña Arana, Viña Alberdi and the grandes reservas 904 and 890.

A winery from 1890

Five Riojan and Basque families founded the Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta in 1890, next to the Haro station; its first chair was Saturnina García Cid y Gárate, and its first winemaker a Frenchman, Monsieur Vigier. In 1904 it merged with the winery of Alfredo Ardanza, and the name of the Gran Reserva 904 comes from that year. It adopted its current name in 1941 and registered the Viña Ardanza brand in 1942. Today it heads a group with three other wineries: Lagar de Fornelos, in Rías Baixas, bought in 1988; Áster, in the Ribera del Duero, with vineyard planted in 1990, and Torre de Oña, in Páganos, in the Rioja Alavesa, acquired in 1995. In 1996 it built a winemaking winery in Labastida. The house itself speaks of six generations devoted to wine.

The visits in Haro

The guided visit "Descubriendo La Rioja Alta, S.A." tours the century-old winery and ends with a guided tasting of three wines, Lagar de Cervera, Viña Ardanza and Viña Arana Gran Reserva: 90 minutes, €35 per adult and €10 per child, and only for over-9s. There is a departure Monday to Friday at 11:30 and on Saturdays and public holidays at 10:45, 11:30 and 12:15, in Spanish. On some Saturdays it schedules special two-hour visits, for over-18s and groups of eight to fifteen people: a historic tasting of three vintages of the Gran Reserva 904, for €75, and "Universo Grandes Reservas", with the 890, the 904 and Viña Arana, for €65. In spring and summer 2027 it adds a one-hour tasting in English, for two to eight people, for €95. Members of its Club de Cosecheros get a reduced price.

Eating and having a glass of wine

On weekdays, at midday, it opens its private dining rooms for groups, with a private winery visit, an appetiser menu, two courses, homemade dessert, several wines and coffee, for €70 per person; the traditional dining room seats up to 30, the glass one 18 and the txoko 10. The Garaje del Club de Cosecheros is its wine bar and shop: wines by the glass, including old vintages, tapas and sales of wine and gifts, Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 17:30 and at weekends and on public holidays from 11:00 to 15:00. It also hires out rooms for meetings.

How to book

All visits are booked beforehand at reservas.riojalta.com. Groups of eight or more who want a special visit on a weekday request it by email, at [email protected], and the dining room is booked by direct contact or on 941 310 346. The website does not publish cancellation conditions, parking or accessibility: ask when booking.