Age Verification

Please confirm that you are above the minimum drinking age

Please do not attempt to enter this web site if you are not above the legal age of drinking alcohol in your country of residence. If no such law exist in your country, you have to be over 18 to enter this web site.

article banner 75th anniversary 2.png

75th Anniversary of Viña Ardanza 2008, La Rioja Alta, S.A


The iconic Viña Ardanza celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, with the fine and elegant 2008 vintage.

After evolving for 75 years, the current style of Viña Ardanza brings together immutable characteristics and countless innovations. It is a wine that amalgamates different varieties and plots to achieve a Burgundian style with great ageing potential. It is a blend of Tempranillo from Rioja Alta, and Garnacha originating from Rioja Baja. This style is unique, but the blend of varieties, percentages, terroirs, barrels and even how long it is aged, varies with each vintage, with the wine always remaining consistently exceptional.

Although it had already been produced and marketed for several years, the brand was officially registered on 28th September 1942 when La Rioja Alta, S.A. was under the chairmanship of Leandro Ardanza.

Viña Ardanza takes its name from one of the five families who founded the winery in the Haro Station district in 1890. After phylloxera prompted the arrival of French vintners and winemakers in the late nineteenth century, many wineries were constructed in proximity of the train station in Haro and the wines were very French in style. So much so in fact that it was quite common for labels on wine bottles to refer to the winemaking style: ‘Medoc style’, ‘Sauternes style’ or, as in the case of the first Viña Ardanza, ‘Burgundy style’. This explains the use of a Burgundy bottle too.

The estate now creates its own barrels, directly importing oak that is specially selected in the United States and naturally dried on the estate in Spain. The grapes have always been picked by hand, but now they are collected in small boxes and taken to the winery in refrigerated transport too. This gentler handling ensures grape integrity and prevents oxidation, so they arrive at the winery in an optimal temperature, in perfect condition. The wine is now produced from only the grapes grown at La Rioja Alta S.A.’s own vineyards, under the watchful eye of Julio Sáenz, their extremely talented winemaker, with 2008 being the first vintage of this kind. Julio comes from a pharmaceutical background and started working at La Rioja Alta in 1996 as quality control manager. He then moved up in 2000 to become the main winemaker for the group that also includes other bodegas in Spain, such as Torre de Oña in Rioja, Aster in Ribera del Duero, and Lagar del Cervera in Ria Baixas.

Viña Ardanza has gone on to become the wine that earned the most fame and popularity for La Rioja Alta, S.A. Over the years, it became an iconic brand and its intrinsic characteristics, originality and personality, have always made it the winery’s benchmark.

Today, 75 years later, Viña Ardanza is also one of the major international Rioja icons and we are delighted to be their exclusive UK importer.

Win tickets to a special tasting and master class with Julio Sáenz and Sarah Jane Evans MW!

We at Armit Wines, are extremely excited to be hosting a special Viña Ardanza vertical tasting and masterclass, also featuring 2012 Torre de Oña Martelo, on Friday 10th November 2017 in our tasting room in Notting Hill. 

This event will be hosted by two industry experts; Sarah Jane Evans (Master of Wine) and Julio Sáenz (Wine Maker) and will give people the chance to ask questions and get a real understanding of the backgrounds of these beautiful Spanish wines.

For your chance to attend this intimate, invite-only event, simply answer the question below.

When was Viña Ardanza officially registered?
To submit your answer, click here.

To double your chance of winning, why not enter again via our Social Media channels? Go to our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages for more information.


Closing date for competition: Wednesday 1st November 2017.
Winners announced: Friday 3rd November 2017.