ÁLVARO LOZA

Álvaro Loza is a talented young viticultor making wines in his grandfather’s land.  He has worked harvests in California, South Africa, Australia, multiple regions in France and Rioja. He is committed to the land, practicing sustainable farming and making terroir-driven wines, 

“I still farm the four plots of land that my grandfather tended—they have become the cornerstone of my wine business. I farm two parcels in Haro and two in Labastida, totaling just three acres altogether." Soils are sandy and rich in pebbles in Haro; and in Labastida plots large layer of sandstone with calcium carbonate sediments. According to Loza, this soil contributes to obtaining the fresh tannins that characterize his wines and prolong the finish. With the exception of some white grapes and a mixture of varieties in the oldest vines, Tempranillo is the dominant variety. 

Álvaro Loza cultivates the land with the philosophy of maintaining the oldest and most special vines that reflect their potential in the wines. “This is a global trend,” he points out, “and one that can extend to my homeland. These types of small vineyards would be of no use to the region’s larger producers, and so by maintaining them we can not only ensure that old vines are not lost. Vinifying them is key to making the kind of wine I most appreciate.” 

Álvaro belongs to a new and exciting generation of winemakers in Rioja. Álvaro is a member of 'Martes of Wine’, a group of small producers rethinking Rioja’s potential; they get together on Tuesdays (Martes).