Ramon Bilbao

Ramón Bilbao Murga founded his winery in 1924 in the northern Spanish town of Haro in the province of La Rioja.

Ramón Bilbao - Rioja DOCa

Ramón Bilbao could hardly have imagined such an ungrateful start to the wine business in 1895. The phylloxera plague destroyed the Rioja vineyards in 1899, but young Ramón Bilbao fulfilled his dream despite all the ills. His success immediately proved him right. With new vines planted in Haro and the great domestic demand for Rioja wine, the former department store with its own vines rose. From 1920 Ramón Bilbao also owned a winery, thus laying the foundations for the future of the business.

Rioja wine from Haro by Ramón Bilbao

The La Rioja region is considered a traditional wine-growing area, at the latest after French farmers settled here in the 19th century to produce wine according to the French model. This area is a paradise where especially Tempranillo thrives. Rámon Bilbao currently owns about 265 hectares of vineyards as well as about 900 hectares from long term cooperations with local winegrowers.

The acquisition by the Diego Zamora Group in 1999 was particularly decisive for the Ramón Bilbao winery, and since then the oenologist Rodolfo Bastista has been responsible for the character of Ramón Bilbao's wines as head cellar master. He also developed new wine concepts and invested massively in new equipment, technology and a new barrique cellar. Today, Ramón Bilbao is a renowned top winery from Rioja and reveals fruity pleasure with fresh and elegant wines.

The Vineyards

Vineyards up to 40 years old are owned by the Ramón Bilbao family estate near Haro. Most of them are planted with Tempranillo, but Garnacha, Maturana and white Tempranillo can also be found on the 205 hectares. In 2016 the winery has achquired vineyards in Rueda D.O., one of the best addresses for white wines in Spain, where the grape varieties Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc also thrive. The vineyards are situated between 450 and 700 metres above sea level, so that the grapes ripen slowly and perfectly in a mild Atlantic climate. This gives the Ramón Bilbao wines their intense and fresh character, which, in keeping with the philosophy of the winery, is elegant and old school.

The 9 principles of Ramón Bilbao wine

• Traditional ingredients and innovative methods
• A fresh and elegant style with fruity wines
• Innovations in vinification - development of new methods and precise viticulture
• Slightly toasted French and American oak barrels that have been used for a maximum of 5 years
• Fresh wines through higher vineyards
• No clarification or filtration of the wine
• Focus on the terroir - unique wines from unique vineyards
• Integrated viticulture with 265 hectares plus 900 hectares from partner winegrowers
• Racking by gravity, respect for the wine

The winery has always worked according to these principles. However, Ramón Bilbao does not stop at the past, but has set its sights on the future and natural viticulture with a binding sustainability plan. The goals are ambitious, in many cases already exceeded. As the first winery in Spain to be certified by Wineries for Climate Protection Program, Ramón Bilbao is supplied by its own solar energy systems. Water management, reduced emissions and a biodynamic approach in the vineyard round off the efforts.