Viña Eguía Crianza 2022 – Rioja Red Wine

Viña Eguía is a winery with roots in Elciego, in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, whose origins date back to 1926, though the current structure was established in 1973. In 2010, the Murúa family, owners of the Muriel Wines group, acquired the assets of Marqués de Arienzo in Rioja, including the Viña Eguía brand, which was given a completely renewed image and concept. Today, Viña Eguía is part of a group that also includes Bodegas Muriel, Marqués de Elciego, Conde de los Andes, Pazo Cilleiro (D.O. Rías Baixas), and Real Compañía de Vinos. The winery's name draws inspiration from the Basque word "egia", meaning "truth" — a concept that underpins its entire philosophy: open, direct, modern, and genuine wines crafted for the broadest possible audiences. This commitment to honesty is reflected in its visual identity, featuring a hand in a pledge gesture over a label shaped like an open book. Viña Eguía manages over 1,100 hectares of vineyards — 400 estate-owned and 700 under its supervision — spread across the three sub-zones of D.O.Ca. Rioja: Rioja Oriental, Rioja Alta, and Rioja Alavesa, working with 11 grape varieties across reds and whites, with 60 hectares currently in conversion to organic farming. Its core range includes a Crianza, a Reserva, and a Gran Reserva that are mainstays of the Spanish domestic market, alongside a Blanco made from Viura, a Rosado from Tempranillo and Garnacha, and wines from other appellations including D.O. Rías Baixas, D.O. Ribera del Duero, D.O. Rueda, and a Godello from Castilla y León. Viña Eguía stands out for its outstanding quality-to-price ratio, with international critics such as James Suckling recognising its wines as serious contenders in the modern, accessible Rioja category.