The cornerstone of our winemaking philosophy consists of achieving the perfect balance between fruit and oak, so that our wines have a modern style and unique personality, a true reflection of the winemaking tradition of Sonsierra, and maximum expression of the personality of Rioja’s star varietals, Tempranillo and Viura.
The unique conditions provided by this corner of La Rioja, combined with the knowledge and talent of our winegrowers and oenologists, have enabled us to create a range of elegant wines with well-defined personalities, but always within the framework of an easily recognizable Rioja identity.
'; CONSTANTES['TXTVINOHOME2']='The outstanding singularity of the wines produced by Bodegas Sonsierra has placed them among the most renowned in Rioja. They are aromatically clean and powerful wines, deliciously easy to drink but with structure, and do not leave anyone indifferent thanks to their delicate bouquet and generous qualities.'; CONSTANTES['DESCARGA_FAMILIA']='Download product sheet'; CONSTANTES['DESCARGA_BOTELLA']='See image of the bottle'; CONSTANTES['ALTVINOHOME']='Sonsierra wine range'; CONSTANTES['TITSONS0']='The land that guards us'; CONSTANTES['TITSONS1']='Natural heritage and traces of the history of wine'; CONSTANTES['TITSONS2']='A thousand-year-old history'; CONSTANTES['TITSONS3']='Ancient traditions dating back to medieval times'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_SONS0']='Almost everything we are and strive to be, we owe to our land, the Rioja Sonsierra. The Sonsierra region is located at the heart of La Rioja and it is a reason for living, an environment around which our whole existence revolves... In this land of vineyards, a protagonist of the first order in the history of La Rioja, a standard bearer for La Rioja winemaking and an area rich in heritage and culture, tradition and its collective memory combine with the modernity of the new age.The name Sonsierra means "under the mountains" and is the region that has traditionally enjoyed greater fame in Rioja for its excellent wines, as it features the most favorable characteristics for wine production and its people have dedicated almost exclusively to the cultivation of grapes for generations. Nowadays the Rioja Sonsierra has 2.500 hectares of vineyards and 50 wineries, including some of the most renowned and prestigious in Rioja.
Sonsierra stores a vast and rich natural, historical, and cultural heritage and they all have the common denominator of being inextricably linked to the world of wine.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_SONS1']='The cultivation of vines in this beautiful region bathed by the Ebro River and sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria mountain chain boasts a tradition that has shaped the landscape for centuries to make Sonsierra a place of unique beauty where the grape-growing covers the land, and wine-related architecture becomes visible among the vineyards.
It is estimated that viticulture arrived in Sonsierra from the Mediterranean peoples up the Ebro valley, and since ancient times this part of the world became a major center of production. Proof of this is the high concentration of field winepresses (Called "Lagares") and "Guardaviñas" existing in this area of La Rioja, which are undoubtedly the best example of Rioja’s folk wine-related architecture.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_SONS2_1']='The history of Sonsierra is an ancient one, which is why our historic and ethnographic heritage is one of the richest in La Rioja. Our fields are home to archaeological sites which show that the area was inhabited since prehistoric times, as well as to remains of ancient human settlements that speak of remote past and inherited traditions.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_SONS2_2']='But it was undoubtedly the Middle Ages that marked the unique beauty, flagstone, and character of this area forever. Because of its geostrategic position in the middle of the Ebro, these lands became a conquered territory between the powerful Christian kingdoms of Navarre and Castile. The medieval past of Sonsierra is evidenced by the many castles in the area, as well as by the urban centers of present-day towns, full of crests and coats of arms.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_SONS3']='If the Sonsierra region is known for something, other than for its wines and medieval castles, it is for "los picaos" of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, an unusual ritual dating back to medieval times. This tradition goes back to the sixteenth century, and consists of self-flagellation of people’s backs as an act of faith, a practice that was common in many places until the eighteenth century. Despite the passage of time, this ritual has remained alive in the village and is currently recognized as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
On the other hand, there are plenty of manifestations of popular joy in the Sonsierra towns that have been long established and have not lost their roots either. St. Martin’s festivals in Ribas de Tereso, St. Barbara’s in Peciña, St. Vincent Martyr’s in San Vicente de la Sonsierra... But undoubtedly the most celebrated one is St. Isidro’s festival, the patron saint of grape growers. During this festival it is customary to carry the saint in procession to the vineyards, where he will be asked to bless them.'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_SONS0']='1_1.jpg,1_2.jpg,1_3.jpg,1_4.jpg,1_5.jpg,1_6.jpg,1_7.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_SONS0']='La Sonsierra a land of vineyards,Ravines at the Ebro Valley,The Sierra de Cantabria and the river Ebro,Guardaviñas,Ancient human settlements,Medieval Sonsierra,Picaos'; CONSTANTES['TXTS_INF_SONS0']='Sonsierra is a beautiful region full of vineyards. Agriculture in the area was devoted to several crops in the past, but vineyards gradually caught on until they became virtually the only crop.0|0In the mid-Tertiary Era (Miocene), this part of the Ebro Valley got drained, and clay calcareous sandstone, which is ideal for growing grapes, deposited in its soil. The river Ebro and its tributaries have been digging these sandstones and shaping the area, thus leaving it marked with deep ravines and hills.0|0Sonsierra is a land blessed with a climate that is ideal for growing vines, thanks to the Sierra de Cantabria range to the north, which acts as a natural barrier to retain moisture laden clouds coming from the Bay of Biscay, and the river Ebro to the south, which provides the region with Mediterranean air.0|0Due to the long wine making tradition of Sonsierra, the fields are full of field crushers (the base for ancient grape presses) and guardaviñas (peculiar pointed stone buildings that were used by wine makers as shelters as well as points to watch their crops).0|0Throughout the centuries there have been numerous human settlements which have been abandoned in this region and which have left behind interesting material remains near the vineyards: hermitages, cave dwellings, shrines, silos for grain storage, or necropolis like in the picture...0|0The medieval period marked the character of the whole area, A good example of this are the many castles that dominate the banks of the Ebro and the streets and noblemen’s stone houses which add a special charm to all the towns in the region.0|0Most of the cultural-religious traditions of the Sonsierra towns, which is why they are well-known throughout Spain, also date back to medieval times.'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_SONS1']='2_1.jpg,2_2.jpg,2_3.jpg,2_4.jpg,2_5.jpg,2_6.jpg,2_7.jpg,2_8.jpg,2_9.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_SONS1']='Guardaviñas El Montecillo,Guardaviñas El Bombon,Guardaviñas El Hornillo,Guardaviñas El Manao,Guardaviñas El Sacramento,Guardaviñas Las Espinillas,Lagar of San Andrés,Lagar of Zabala,Lagar of Zabala'; CONSTANTES['TXTS_INF_SONS1']='The guardaviñas constitute an example of popular architecture that is unique and exclusive of the Rioja wine making world. Its construction was popularized in the late nineteenth century, when the arrival of French wine makers in Rioja led to the expansion and modernization of the wine industry. In the photo, Guardaviñas El Montecillo.0|0Most guardaviñas that have been preserved in La Rioja are located in the Sonsierra area. In the photo, Guardaviñas El Bombon0|0Guardaviñas are stone one-storey buildings (usually round in shape), which are always located near the crops, as they were used by wine growers for shelter, storage and surveillance of their crops. In the photo, Guardaviñas El Hornillo0|0Most guardaviñas are built dry, ie with stones placed one on top of the other with little contribution of mortar, as shown in Guardaviñas El Manao, in the photo.0|0A large number of guardaviñas have windows, and some also have pens to provide horses with shelter and a place to rest. In the photo, Guardaviñas El Sacramento0|0Guardaviñas Las Espinillas (in the photo) is undoubtedly the most relevant guardaviñas in the area, since it features an attached chimney and has a second floor used as a bedroom.0|0Field crushers are the oldest grape presse s that are preserved in Rioja, so their cultural value is incalculable. Although difficult to date, they seem to have been erected between the 10th and 14th centuries. They consist of small wells carved in limestone near the vineyards where the grapes used to be trodden and, in some cases, pressed.0|0Most of the field crushers discovered in La Rioja are concentrated in the Sonsierra area. They are usually located on stone terraces that emerge several meters out of the ground, and due to their limited capacity, it is estimated that they must have only covered the family needs of the owners.0|0In general, the winepresse s have two wells or excavations in the rock: the first one where the grapes are placed and pressed with the feet and the second one, linked to the other one by means of a groove, where the juice was collected in clay jars or goat skins. Carved holes have also been found in some winepresses, which suggests that there was some type of machinery to facilitate pressing.'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_SONS2']='3_6.jpg,3_7.jpg,3_8.jpg,3_9_b.jpg,3_10.jpg,3_1.jpg,3_2.jpg,3_3.jpg,3_4.jpg,3_5.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_SONS2']='The Casaja Neolithic Dolmen,Ancient village of Orzales,Shrine of San Martín,Ancient cemetery of San Andrés,Orzales hermitage,San Vicente de la Sonsierra,Medieval bridge of San Vicente de la Sonsierra,Lordly village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra,Main square of San Vicente de la Sonsierra,Shrine of Santa María de la Piscina'; CONSTANTES['TXTS_INF_SONS2']='In Sonsierra, archaeological remains certify the presence of small farming communities in prehistoric times. The phot shows the Casaja Neolithic Dolmen (3000 B.C.). This dolmen is part of a set of prehistoric graves located 600 metres away in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria range, which are considered the oldest in Spain and dating back to the country's dolmen culture.0|0Many remains of ancient human settlements have been found throughout Sonsierra (hermitages, cave dwellings, necropolis, shrines, silos for grain storage...). One of these settlements or villages was Orzales, located near the top of Toloño, which is now missing. The only part of it remaining today is the Orzales Shrine.0|0San Martín Shrine (twelfth century) is the only remains that are left of the primitive village of San Martin de la Sonsierra. The chapel is basically Romanesque, but it seems to have been built over a primitive Mozarabic building.0|0There are endless necropolis (ancient cemeteries) hidden among the vineyards in Sonsierra. The one we can see in the photo is San Andrés Necropolis, which is believed to have belonged to the village of Hornillos, burnt down in 1430 during one strife between Castile and Navarre (when the attempt to defeat San Vicente Castle failed, it was a common practice to set fire to all nearby towns).0|0The hermit's life in Sonsierra was also important in the past. A hermit was a monk whose mission was to care for and protect a chapel dedicated to a saint. Hermits lived alone in hermitages like the one in the picture (Orzales Hermitage), and this retirement was considered as part of their spiritual lives and Christian dedication.0|0The towns in Sonsierra usually developed around a medieval castle, thus revealing a warlike past. The photo shows San Vicente de la Sonsierra overlooked by the imposing figure of its fortified medieval castle, once the largest fortress built in Navarre on the banks of the Ebro.0|0The Bridge of San Vicente de la Sonsierra defended the passage over the river Ebro in the Middle Ages. Its existence might date back to 1172, when the town received a charter from Sancho the Wise of Navarre.0|0The town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a lordly village with steep and winding streets, full of noble houses (16th to 18th centuries) which certify its pedigree. They are entirely built of freestone, many of them boast coats of arms on the facade and beautiful carved wooden eaves.0|0In the main square of San Vicente de la Sonsierra stands the Town Hall (17th c.), which, despite its simplicity, evokes the days when wine marketing generated an atmosphere of wellbeing in the region.0|0Some of the most important monuments of La Rioja can be found in Sonsierra. For instance, the Shrine of Santa María de la Piscina (12th century), whose interest lies in its early chronology (since most Romanesque in Rioja dates back to later times), and in the fact that it is the most complete Romanesque building that has been preserved in La Rioja.'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_SONS3']='4_1.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_SONS3']='Los picaos'; CONSTANTES['TXTS_INF_SONS3']='The tradition of "picaos" is closely linked to the culture of San Vicente de la Sonsierra and is today one of the most important and well-known religious events in Spain.'; CONSTANTES['TITVINED0']='Our exceptional treasures'; CONSTANTES['TITVINED1']='A privileged corner of the world'; CONSTANTES['TITVINED2']='A vast expanse of vineyards'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_VINED0']='1_1.jpg,1_2.jpg,1_3.jpg,1_4.jpg,1_5.jpg,1_6.jpg,1_7.jpg,1_8.jpg,1_9.jpg,1_10.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_VINED0']='Grapegrower harvesting,Harvest by hand,Sonsierra v ineyards in spring,Tempranillo variety leaf,Tempranillo variety grapes,Vines pruned during winter time,Vine crying,Old Tempranillo variety vine,Sonsierra vineyards in autum,Sonsierra vineyards in autum'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_VINED1']='2_1.jpg,2_2.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_VINED1']='Sierra de Cantabria and river Ebro,Sonsierra soils'; CONSTANTES['TXTS_INF_VINED1']='The Sierra de Cantabria range to the north and the Ebro River to the south create a very special microclimate in Sonsierra, which is especially favorable for growing quality vines.0|0The Sonsierra soil is very rich in limestone, ideal for growing the Tempranillo varietal, and giving the soil a characteristic yellow-ochre shade.'; CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_VINED2']='3_0.jpg'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_VINED2']='Vineyard leaf'; CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_VINED3']='Vineyard map'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_VINED0']='Almost everything we are and strive to be, we also owe to our vineyards. Forever facing the south, its venerable old age, its clayey-calcareous soil strata in step formation climbing from the Ebro to the Cantabrian Mountain Range, that faithful natural defence of the special microclimate permeating throughout the region... That is why we pamper and protect this land like a small, rare treasure, admiring it day after day, carefully monitoring its development, selecting each cluster of grapes by hand...
At Bodegas Sonsierra we only grow the native and more characteristic varieties of Rioja, Tempranillo and Viura. From time immemorial, they have been the grapevines which best adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of Sonsierra, giving very aromatic wine, with optimal color, structure, and alcohol content. Because of the terrain conditions and the wine growing tradition of the area, the plantation system is mainly goblet-trained vines, the entire harvest is done by hand, the traditional style, and each cluster is selected and harvested at the right moment in which the grapes have reached optimum ripeness. We elaborate all of our wines only from the exquisite fruit of our vineyards. This is how we manage our wines to maintain their excellent temperament and quality year after year.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_VINED1_1']='The Cantabrian Mountain Range to the north and the river Ebro to the south create a very special microclimate in this region, where the cool influence of the Bay of Biscay harmoniously competes with the rejuvenating breeze of the Atlantic Ocean and the warm distant smell of the Mediterranean. The result is a unique atmosphere with moderate levels of rainfall and mild temperatures throughout the year, and a high thermal difference between night and day. This last feature is extremely beneficial to our vineyards, which need heat to grow and develop, and cold to retain delicate colors and flavors.
Furthermore, the moderately steep slopes of our plots that wonderfully face the south favor excellent exposure of the strains to sunlight all day. It is this way that our vineyards are encouraged to produce the valuable sugars. In addition, the wind blows air through our vineyards every afternoon, thus avoiding the appearance of disease in our vines, and creating a healthy environment where all our strains grow healthy. '; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_VINED1_2']='Our vineyards lie on deep clayey-calcareous lands created by mother earth in the Miocene epoch. These soils have a balanced internal structure (sand, silt and clay), are rich in limestone, poor in organic matter, and have moderate water availability.
These characteristics make the Sonsierra land the most appropriate one in Rioja for the growth of quality vineyards and especially suitable for making wines that are to be aged in barrels, since the small amount of organic matter and water available in the soil limits vine growth, and therefore the production of the plant is small and of high quality.
The limestone in this land also makes it an ideal place for growing the Tempranillo varietal, as it results in wines with good acidity balance and excellent concentration of aromas and flavors.'; CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_VINED2']='Our winery owns a vast expanse of vineyards, 570 hectares, 25% of the whole Rioja Sonsierra. Our vineyards are situated on a hilly relief, on terraces ranging from 420 meters in the lower Ebro area up to 770 meters in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria. The different altitudes show antagonistic behavior toward rainfall and temperature, which guarantees fantastic ripening in at least two thirds of the vineyards, even in years of extreme weather conditions.
The long wine making tradition of Sonsierra is evident in our vineyards, noted for their age and quality. Our youngest vines average over 20 years of age and a quarter of our vineyards, 150 hectares, are old vines aged between 30 and 130 years. The grapes from the older vineyards typically offer very gratifying results to those seeking high-quality winemaking, as strains accumulate reserves in the trunk throughout their lives leading to fruit with higher concentrations of acidity, sugars, and other compounds, and they have the ability to naturally moderate production by generating a smaller amount of grapes than younger vineyards although with deeper and better defined flavors.';
CONSTANTES['MAPDESCINI']='Click above the coloured areas for further information.';
CONSTANTES['TXT_AREA1']='La Ribera.
In this area, our vines lie on the banks of the river Ebro along with rows of poplars, cottonwoods, and elms, to the pace set by the splashing catfish, carp and perch. Numerous birds nest in this area, such as sparrow-hawks, herons or kingfishers. It is the lowest zone (420-485 m.), and also the warmest and driest. That is why the grapes in this area ripen early and, in cold or wet years, provide us with higher quality clusters.';
CONSTANTES['TXT_AREA2']='La Comarca.
In this area, our vines are mixed with the ebb and flow of the crowd, and the scurrying of hares and badgers, known as ‘tasugos’ by the locals. This area is an intermediate zone in terms of height (485-525 m.), temperature, and rainfall. The grapes in this area usually ripen one week later than those in Ribera, and the quality of the clusters is always outstanding, regardless of the weather.';
CONSTANTES['TXT_AREA3']='La Sierra.
In this area, our vineyards are interspersed with pine and oak woods. Thyme, rosemary and sage permeate the area with their scent and the sky is guarded by golden eagles and peregrine falcons. This area includes the highest vineyards in our territory (525-770 m.). As it is the coolest area as well as the one with the highest rainfall, it offers excellent quality grapes in dry or warm years. Ripening is the latest, usually two weeks after those in La Ribera.';
CONSTANTES['TITBOD0']='In the vanguard of winemaking';
CONSTANTES['TXT_INF_BOD0']='Talking about Bodegas Sonsierra is talking about hundreds of years of history. Bodegas Sonsierra was founded on January 3, 1961, and inaugurated the 15th May 1962, back in the years when wine production became the economic engine of La Rioja. However, its founders have been devoted to the most careful cultivation of their vineyards for countless generations. From nature, history and a winemaking tradition combined in perfect harmony emerged a partnership, a family tie with the land itself, an identity that defines us and sets us apart.
Today Bodegas Sonsierra is the second largest bottling cooperative in Rioja, and is an example of coordination and collaboration of 160 expert winemakers. The experience of our farmers and oenologists, and the acquisition of the latest technology in wine production, have resulted in a technical development that allows us to combine tradition and modernity in our winemaking process, while respecting the natural evolution of wine.
Years of work and research have shown that wine quality starts in the vineyard. True to this philosophy, at Bodegas Sonsierra we strive to conduct a careful viticulture and produce our wines only from grapes from our own vines, planted, pruned and harvested by us. On the other hand, for Bodegas Sonsierra work at the vineyard is not limited to obtaining a good harvest of grapes, but to achieving the primary objective, which is the development of a certain type of wine.
We are not only careful in the fields but in our processing facilities as well, where everything is governed by the selection of raw materials, attention to detail, and the application of the most modern production techniques. A real revolution in a cooperative that, in a radical commitment to quality, has positioned itself among Rioja’s most innovative wineries.';
CONSTANTES['IMGS_INF_BOD0']='1_1.jpg,1_2.jpg,1_3.jpg,1_4.jpg,1_5.jpg';
CONSTANTES['ALTS_INF_BOD0']='Access to the barrel hall of Bodegas Sonsierra,Aerial view of Bodegas Sonsierra,Elaboration plant of Bodegas Sonsierra,Frontage of Bodegas Sonsierra,Barrel hall of Bodegas Sonsierra';
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CONSTANTES['LOCALIZACION']='BODEGAS SONSIERRA
C/ del Remedio, S/N · 26338
San Vicente de la Sonsierra
La Rioja (SPAIN)
TEL. +34 941 334 031
FAX. +34 941 334 245
';
CONSTANTES['CORREOINFO']='administracion@sonsierra.com';
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CONSTANTES['urlGeneral']='http://www.sonsierra.com/';
CONSTANTES['urlGeneral2']='';