Wine for sale: Bodegas Bilbainas

Bodegas Bilbainas

The story of Bodegas Bilbaínas is a textbook illustration of the influence of Bordeaux in Spain. The history of these cellars, which are over a hundred years old, dates back to 1859, when the Bordeaux company Sauvignon Frère et Cie established itself in Rioja Alta. They produced a wine called Vina Pomal, which was one of the first Spanish wines to be sold abroad in the early twentieth century. Bodegas Bilbaínas is situated to the north of Logroño and mainly cultivates Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo and Graciano, as well as white grape varieties such as Viura and Malvasia. Today, the business is owned by the Grupo Codorníu and markets twenty or so cuvées in a variety of styles (reds, rosés, whites, and cava).