Perhaps not as well known in the UK as some of Rioja’s other famous houses, Sierra Cantabria has been a pioneering force in the region since it was founded in 1957 by Guillermo Eguren, father of current winemaker Marcos Eguren. Based largely in the high-altitude vineyards in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria mountains, their vineyards benefit from the sheltering influence from the Atlantic, while altitude and cool nights help preserve freshness and acidity in the wines.
This very special en primeur offer from the 2025 vintage brings together wines from the Eguren family’s three high-end projects: Viñedos Sierra Cantabria, capturing the Atlantic influence of their vineyards; Viñedos de Páganos, focused on individual plots across the region’s finest limestone soils; and Teso La Monja in Toro, their expression of another great Spanish terroir. Founded in 2007 following the sale of their legendary Numanthia estate to LVMH, Teso La Monja has helped redefine Toro, showcasing the finesse possible from old-vine tinta de Toro (tempranillo). Wines such as Victorino and Alabaster are now icons of modern Spanish winemaking, combining intensity and elegance in a region known for big block-buster wines.
Order by midday, Thursday 20th August
I’ve been following Sierra Cantabria since long before my career at The Wine Society, having first taken the whole range into my portfolio in a previous buying role. At the time, they were one of the few wineries who spoke to me almost exclusively about land and soil, rather than cellaring or oak and I was impressed, as I still am today, by the purity and precision of these very fine Riojas.
They are renowned for working with and revitalising old vineyards, embracing modern techniques without sacrificing tradition, and maintaining an obsessive focus on the land, long before this became the increasingly important trend it is today. Through this commitment, Sierra Cantabria has earned acclaim for producing elegant, powerful wines that capture the distinctive character of their place.
