Bideona, 'Mayela', Rioja Alavesa 2023

Bideona, founded in 2018, is a winery based in the heart of Rioja Alavesa which offers a new perspective on Rioja wines: here the emphasis is on site, rather than ageing. The vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, predominantly surrounding the villages of Villabuena, Leza, Laguardia and Baños del Ebro, with each terroir producing wines with distinctive character. The vines are extremely old and low yielding; many were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and they deliver concentrated juice with a clear identity. Vines are planted on hillsides in soils with a high percentage of limestone, a characteristic that sets Alavesa apart from the rest of Rioja, together with high altitude and vineyard age. The winemaking philosophy is to obtain very pure, fresh and well-textured wines that reflect their origin.

The grapes come from 300 small, carefully selected parcels, situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, in Rioja Alavesa. The average age of the vineyard is approximately 50 years, but some of the vines are significantly older, many were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and produce low yields of concentrated juice. The bush vines are planted in limestone soils, resulting in elegant wines that are fresh, precise and age worthy due to the balancing acidity. The vines are cultivated with respect for the environment, using minimal sprays of copper and sulphur when required. The fruit is hand-harvested in 15-kilogram boxes to preserve the quality. Mayela aims to contribute to the preservation of traditional viticulture and to the sustainability of these historic vineyards.

The winemaking philosophy is to obtain very pure, fresh and well-textured wines that reflect their origin. This wine was vinified without any methods that would obscure the personality of the wine, resulting in a serious, unoaked wine. This is Bidoena’s 'Cosechero 2.0' (Harvester) project that is a contemporary reinterpretation of the grower / 'cosechero' tradition of Rioja Alavesa. It is a single wine, with each case of 6 carrying a series of six sequential labels featuring illustrations of Peninsula’s growers, as a tribute to their daily work. The grapes were destemmed and fermented at moderate temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Light extraction techniques ensured the resulting wine fresh and fruity in an easy-drinking style.