Luis Canas Crianza Rioja 2021 Wine (75cl)

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Bodegas Luis Cañas has been at the heart of Rioja Alavesa since 1928 and is widely regarded as one of the region’s most influential family-run wineries. With vineyards nestled against the Sierra de Cantabria, the estate boasts some of Rioja’s highest-altitude sites, where thin chalky-clay soils and old bush vines produce small, concentrated bunches ideal for crafting complex, age-worthy wines. The estate is celebrated for its exemplary Viñedo Singulares (single-vineyard wines) and for preserving Rioja’s viticultural heritage. Director of viticulture, Rubén Jiménez, has played a pioneering role in identifying outstanding plots and recovering ancient, almost-lost grape varieties, earning him Tim Atkin MW’s Grower of the Year 2023. Today, under the leadership of Juan Luis Cañas and his son, Jon, the bodega continues to combine tradition with innovation, ensuring Rioja Alavesa remains one of Spain’s most exciting wine regions. Viticulture The estate controls 350 hectares of vineyards divided into an extraordinary 870 separate plots, each carefully categorised according to its character and potential. All the vineyards are within 3.1 miles of the winery, allowing meticulous control over viticulture and harvest timing. Farming follows rational and, in many cases, organic practices, with a strong emphasis on respecting terroir and preserving biodiversity. Every plot is managed according to its own personality, ensuring only the best grapes are selected for each wine.

Winemaking

On arrival at the bodega, grapes undergo a double sorting process before being de-stemmed and gently crushed. Fermentation is carried out in small stainless steel tanks using a combination of indigenous and selected yeasts, followed by maceration for 20 days at controlled temperatures to maximise colour and aromatic complexity. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in tank. The wine is then aged for 12 months in a mix of 60% French oak and 40% American oak barrels, followed by a further 12 months