Uncategorized

| More than the 22% of their vineyards have been distinguished with this denomination, that guarantees its quality as ‘Excellent’ |

The vineyards of Marqués de Vargas, located in Rioja Alta, have been recognised with the denomination of Viñedo Singular (unique vineyard) due to the extraordinary characteristics of their plots, the difference in their production process and the respect for the traditional manual harvest.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has certified this peculiarity to 84 vineyards and 154ha of production all throughout the DOCa Rioja, shared among its three areas: Rioja Alavesa (43), Rioja Oriental (10) and Rioja Alta (31). This last region is where we can find the vineyards of Marqués de Vargas where they have recognised three plots of the estate of Pradolagar, which represent 11.36ha of vineyard, and are the 22% of the total land of the vineyards of Marqués de Vargas.

“We should feel enormously proud”

For Pelayo de la Mata, Marquis of Vargas, “the recognition of Viñedo Singular is an honor for our wines, where the first vines in Hacienda Pradolagar were planted back in 1840. In this sense, De la Mata has highlighted “we should feel enormously proud of beeing pioneers, one more time, in the obtaining of this recognition that praises the historic excellence of our land”

The Viñedo Singular of Marqués de Vargas

The plots certified as Viñedo Singular at Marqués de Vargas, have an average age of 40 to 50 years. The vines are perfectly acclimatised to terroir and they are able to reflect its characteristics on the wines, which are elaborated exclusively with grapes from the mentioned plots, with  maximum yields below 4.500kg/ha.

This plots are planted only with the indigenous varities of grapes from Rioja: tempranillo, mazuelo (also known as carignan), grenache, graciano and maturana. From the plots certified as Viñedo Singular come the iconic wines Marqués de Vargas Selección Privada and Hacienda Pradolagar.

Vintage 2017, the first one with this distinction

In the ageing cellar of Bodegas y Viñedos Marqués de Vargas rests already the vintage 2017, from which we will see the first wines labelled with the distinction of Viñedo Singular. Some years will go by before we are able to taste these wines, but for sure, it will be worth it.

The winery Marqués de Vargas has been distinguished with the Magnífico Award to the Best Winery by the editorial group Vivir el Vino in the last edition of the awards to the 11 Magnificents 2019, celebrated last Monday 21st February.

After an exacting selection of the awarded, carried out by a jury directed by the well-known sommelier Raúl Serrano, in which more than 1.600 samples of the best wines of Spain were tasted, they made a preselection of the 365 most select wines, finally only 11 have got the prestigious “Magnífico” Award.

• The winery Marqués de Vargas is included in the First Growths, an exclusive group of 21 wineries that stand out due to their quality.
• Hacienda Pradolagar repeats in the Top 20 wines from Rioja and obtains, for second year in a row, 97 points (among over 1.228 wines that were tasted).
• All the references of Marqués de Vargas from vintage 2016, are above 94 points at the Atkin’s Riojan Rank 2020

Madrid, February 6, 2020.- The critic and Master of Wine Tim Atkin, has published his ‘Rioja Special’ annual report, in which after analising more than 200 wineries and tasting more than 1.200 wines, he has granted the winery Marqués de Vargas and its wines a historic clasification that includes them among the best of the region. From one standpoint, Marqués de Vargas is ranked as First Growth, or “first class producer”, a select group of 21 wineries singled out by Atkin because of their quality and their expertise. Furthermore, all the wines from the 2016 vintage get marks above 94, standing out in a special way Hacienda Pradolagar, that repeats in the Top 20 and gets, for second year in a row, 97 points.

In particular, Tim Atkin has recognized Marqués de Vargas Hacienda Pradolagar 2016 categorizing it as a high-end wine coming from one of the most important wine regions for red wine. He has also appreciated its mineral background, with a fine tannin result of its ageing in French oak barrels. A subtle and elegant reference, produced only in the great vintages with the best grapes of tempranillo and mazuelo.

Besides this recognition that puts Hacienda Pradolagar among the best 20 wines of Rioja, Tim Atkin has given high rates to Marques de Vargas’ red wines taking into account the quality and personality of each one of them. Thus, Marqués de Vargas Selección Privada 2016 gets 96 points, standing out also among the ‘Wines of The Year’; 95 points for Marqués de Vargas Gran Reserva 2016, as well as getting a position among the 5 most prestigious wines in the category of ‘Gran Reserva’; and concludes with 94 points for Marqués de Vargas Reserva 2016.

“The high marks in the prestigious Tim Atkin’s ‘Special Report’ recognise the solid family project of Marqués de Vargas, settled in the Qualified Designation of Origin Rioja for more than three decades, where our first vines were planted back in 1840. The positive ratings invite us to keep working in order to achieve the maximum quality and maintain it in time” says Don Pelayo de la Mata, 11th Marquis of Vargas and 9th Count of San Cristóbal.

In the most complete report about Rioja made so far, Atkin highlights in his general considerations about the region, the extraordinary quality of the terroir of the estate Hacienda Pradolagar from which the winery Marqués de Vargás obtains all its grapes; as well as the effort in favour of the oenotourism that some wineries from Logroño, among which Marqués de Vargas stands out, are carrying out to develop the prestige of the region at a national level.

High-end wines in Viñedos Singulares (unique vineyards)

The work and determination of the winemaking team at Marqués de Vargas to produce high-end wines, have been endorsed by Atkins’ reviews. In particular, in Selección Privada 2016 he recognises the excellent job of Ana Barrón that has allowed the winery to obtain a balanced vintage with Tempranillo, Grenache and Mazuelo. A fresh, refined and delicate wine.

The expert highlights in the Gran Reserva 2016 the classy blend of Tempranillo, 10% of Mazuelo and Grenache, aged in a combination of French and American oak. During its tasting, he appreciated the sweet touches of coconut.

Lastly, in the Reserva 2016, he praises Ana Barrón and Xavier Ausás one more time, emphasising that the team has been able to obtain a great potential wine from Tempranillo, Grenache and Mazuelo.

Likewise, to this recognition we have to add the designation of Viñedo Singular (unique vineyard) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The vineyards of Marqués de Vargas, located in Rioja Alta, stand out because of the extraordinary characteristics of their plots, their distinctive production process and the respect for the traditional techniques in the vineyard (manual pruning and harvest).