Familie Fernández Rivera

What many people know under the name Alejandro Fernández encompasses a winegrowing history of now over 50 years – today under the great name “Familia Fernández Rivera.” It all begins in 1972, when Alejandro Fernández and Esperanza Rivera use the money from the sale of a patent to buy a small 16th-century natural stone winery and start cultivating the vineyards.

The first wine – Tinto Pesquera

Three years later the time has finally come: the first wine is bottled and released on the market. Alejandro Fernández and Esperanza name it Tinto Pesquera – a homage to Alejandro’s and Esperanza’s birthplace, Pesquera de Duero.

Alejandro Fernández – ambassador of the DO

The success of the wines of the Familia Fernández Rivera led to a steep rise of the region, both in terms of quality and quantity. Thus it took only a few years until, in 1982, the Ribera del Duero D.O. designation of origin was finally created.

The Janus – the next coup from the top winemaker

In 1982, practically at the same time as the creation of the DO Ribera del Duero, Alejandro Fernández launched the first Janús Pesquera on the market, bearing the name of the two-faced Roman god. Janús is vinified exclusively in outstanding years from grapes of Viña Alta, the highest site of the Tinto Pesquera winery.

Robert Parker discovers Alejandro Fernández

In 1985, the then not yet world-famous wine critic and tastemaker Robert Parker took notice of Alejandro Fernández. He rated Tinto Pesquera, more precisely Janús, exceptionally highly and placed it in the category “Best Wines of the World.” For Parker, Janús is the Spanish Petrus.

Condado de Haza – 10 years later

Ten years after the great success of Janús, the next top wine from Alejandro Fernández’s next winery followed in 1995. It marks the birth of Condado de Haza, whose Crianza was counted among the 100 best wines in the world in 2008 and 2012 by the renowned trade journal “Wine Spectator.”

Dehesa la Granja – 300 years old

The pace increased more and more for Alejandro Fernández. As early as 1998, he acquired a 300-year-old winery called Dehesa de la Granja in Vadillo de Guareña in the province of Zamora for the Familia Fernández Rivera. On this estate, in addition to first-class wine, the finest cheese, chickpeas and top-quality olive oil are produced.

It still goes on – El Vínculo

In 1999, Familia Fernández Rivera established the El Vínculo winery in Campo de Criptana. In addition to Tempranillo, one of the most exciting white grape varieties in the world, Airén, is cultivated in the vineyards of El Vínculo.

2019 – three granddaughters take over

The granddaughters of Esperanza and Alejandro took over the management of the wineries of the Fernández Rivera family in 2019. The third generation is leading a company that adapts to the times and continues to grow.

Currently, 4 wineries, a hotel and a team of more than 120 employees are under their leadership.

The wineries of the Fernández Rivera family

• Tinto Pesquera
• Condado de Haza
• El Vínculo
• Dehesa de la Granja