Bodegas Ugalde was founded in 1882 by Felipe Ugalde, a prominent member of the Rioja D.O.C. and one of its founding members. Remarkably, this was one of the only wineries still operating during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1938). It is situated between the northern banks of the Ebro River and the eastern slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria. In the late 19th century in Haro, Rioja, they experienced an influx of French winemakers from Bordeaux who sought to replace their own vines devastated by phylloxera. This trade brought about an exchange of knowledge that proved beneficial to both the locals and the visitors.
Among these winemakers was Felipe Ugalde, an eccentric individual from Haro, who, inspired by the experiences of his French colleagues, set out to produce wines of exceptional quality that would reflect the unique characteristics of Rioja's terroir. In 1882, Ugalde established the original Bodegas Ugalde cellar and brand, which he later expanded to other countries by forming the region's first export alliance with fellow Rioja winemakers.
Today, more than 130 years later, his legacy continues to thrive where the first vineyards were planted on the property. Their core values have remained the same, to respect the land, its essence and traditions. The family estate is 10 kilometres from Logroño in the area called ‘Venta del Jalón’. Bodegas Ugalde is managed according to the ‘chateaux’ concept, with 70 hectares of vineyards surrounding the cellars. This is a much sought-after location in terms of viticulture, with nutrient-poor soil and a variable climate. The competing Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean influences manufacture an environment in which one year the vines seek nutrients for sustenance driving it to go through periods of stress, juxtaposed with periods of higher nutrient availability. The competing influences also mean they possess a range of terroirs allowing them to produce a diverse range of wines, each possessing their own unique essence. The nutrient-poor soil type means the roots have to work harder, branching off or ‘ramifying,’ to gather nutrients. Not only does this increase their surface area, permitting a higher number of access points for nutrients to get to grapes, but also helps regulate water absorption. Bodegas Ugalde has dedicated efforts to conveying the unique expressions of their various terroirs. Characterised by diverse altitudes and soil types including clay, chalk, alluvial, and notably, some distinctive salty soils with pronounced minerality. Simultaneously, they conduct research on the potential of other suitable grape varieties, as well as exploring the combination of vineyards situated in vastly dissimilar terroirs within the estate.
Felipe was a pioneer in exporting wines from Rioja, being one of the first winemaker to actively promote sales in international markets. The current team are guided by Felipe’s 1882 vision which aimed to encapsulate the essence of Rioja's terroir in every bottle of Bodegas Ugalde.
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