Bodegas Casa Primicia

Bodegas Casa Primicia is located in the village of Laguardia, one of the most important wine-growing towns in Rioja Alavesa. The Madrid family runs the estate today.

Bodegas Casa Primicia - Wine and History

Casa Primicia is the oldest building in the village of Laguardia. It dates back to the 15th century and has a deep vaulted cellar, which today serves as the ageing cellar for the wines of Bodegas Casa Prim icia. The building was originally owned by the church and served as a collection point for the taxes that the guarantors had to pay.

Julian Madrid bought the building to preserve it and renovated the cellar for use as a wine storage facility. Today, his grandsons continue the family business and thus the passion for the history and tradition of Rioja Alavesa.

The terroir of Rioja Alavesa

The microclimate around Laguardia is quite balanced compared to surrounding areas. The vineyards of Bodegas Casa Primicia stretch from the foot of the Cantabriage Mountains to the river Ebro. The Carravalseca vineyard, the crown jewel of the Madrids, stands out in particular, stretching around the lake of the same name. The vineyards are exclusively organically cultivated.

In the cellar of the Bodegas Casa Primicia

The wines of Bodegas Casa Primicia are divided into five lines:

• Young wines
• Pure variety wines - typical grape varieties of Rioja
• Carravalseca - wines from the grapes of the top vineyard
• Julian Madrid -  a Tempranillo in honour of the founder
• Cofradía - a long matured Tempranillo from old vines

The grapes for the wines of Bodegas Casa Primicia are brought to the winery as soon as possible after harvesting, in order to obtain an ideal starting point for the fermentation of the must. After fermentation, the first selection of the young wine is made and it is decided whether it is suitable for young or ageing wines. The latter are then placed in barrels for aging to slowly bring out their qualities.