Bodegas RODA are at the cutting edge of winemaking in Rioja, having undertaken an exhaustive analysis of many of the best vineyard sites in La Rioja Alta and picked 17 of the very best of these, where the focus is on old vines that are dry-farmed. RODA have also completed extensive research into 552 Tempranillo clones to find the very best suited to current climatic conditions.
 
Although the company was established in 1987, the winery in Haro wasn’t completed until 2001. By then it had gained its reputation as one of the top producers in the region. It is bang next door to La Rioja Alta, Lopez de Heredia and Marques de Murrieta, but, being by far the smallest of the four, RODA has always been more of an insider’s secret, whilst the other three have grown into considerable brands.
 
The winery was renovated in 2019, providing blending options such as individual vineyard vinification. They focus on minimum intervention with spontaneous fermentations, short macerations and French oak only to minimise oak impact. Sustainability practices are key for RODA, as a partner of the European SHIP2FAIR project supporting renewable sources of energy.
 
Bodegas LA HORRA, famous for their Corimbo wines, was established in 2009 by Bodegas Roda, in search of the best location to grow Tempranillo outside of La Rioja. The eventual site that was chosen is set in the heart of Ribera del Duero’s most traditional neighbourhood: La Horra.
 
The vines are aged between 25 and 100 years and are trained in the classic Riojan/Riberan bush vine formation. Similar to Bodegas RODA, they are also at the helm of innovation with the Tempranillo research and are conducting trials with clonal varieties of 243 clones in a designated nursery to find which are best adapted to coping with the extreme heat. A total of 7% of all turnover is reinvested back into this research and development. In line with their continued focus on sustainability, the Bodegas La Horra vineyards are certified organic. In the winery, the grapes are chilled overnight on arrival and sorted before a cold maceration over two days. Fermentation uses indigenous yeasts.
 
Bodegas RODA bottle two versions of RODA, depending on the vintage – RODA is the lighter version, showing red fruits and subtle earth notes, usually from a cooler vintage and containing some Garnacha and Graciano alongside the Tempranillo. RODA 1 comes from the stronger vintages, made almost entirely from Tempranillo, with a dark fruit profile, structured mineral character and more depth and richness. Both are made from special selections from within the vineyard, and are aged in used French oak. In Ribera del Duero, they bottle two versions of CORIMBO, but unlike at RODA, CORIMBO is made from younger vines and offers a fresher, earlier drinking version, whilst their older vines go into CORIMBO 1, producing a more complex and serious wine.

N.B. This wine is not currently in stock but can be ordered, usually for delivery within a few weeks -  please email info@cellarselect.co.uk for availability and lead time, or it will be confirmed after an order is placed.