Finca Allende

Miguel Ángel de Gregorio founded Finca Allende in 1986, establishing the estate in the 17th-century Palacio Ibarra in Briones. His family's connection to viticulture in the area stretches back centuries, with records dating to 1672. The first wine was released in 1995, and from the outset the focus was on terroir expression rather than the blending across zones that had long defined Rioja's identity. That shift challenged the appellation's traditional paradigm and ultimately helped establish the regulatory framework for vineyard-specific designations in Rioja.

• Founded 1986 by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio; family viticulture records date to 1672
• Based in the 17th-century Palacio Ibarra, Briones, Rioja Alta
• First commercial release in 1995
• Credited with establishing regulatory precedent for single-vineyard designations in Rioja

The estate's 56 hectares are divided into 92 distinct plots spread across elevations ranging from 420 to 620 metres above sea level. Soils combine red clay topsoils with gravel and a calcareous gravel and clay-limestone subsoil. The climate is Atlantic-influenced with cool nights, sitting at the transition between continental and Mediterranean conditions. This diversity of aspect and altitude is central to the estate's terroir philosophy. The Calvario flagship wine comes from a vineyard planted in 1945, while Aurus is produced from the oldest vines, planted on north-facing high-elevation plots.

• 92 plots across 56 hectares; 22 hectares directly owned, remainder under contract with Briones growers
• Elevations from 420m to 620m above sea level
• Soils: red clay with gravel over calcareous gravel and clay-limestone substrate
• Atlantic-influenced climate with cool nights; continental-Mediterranean transition zone

Tempranillo is the dominant variety at Finca Allende, used either as a 100% varietal or as the base for blends. Graciano, Viura, and Malvasia are also grown. The principal cuvée is 100% Tempranillo aged 13 months in predominantly French oak. Aurus, the top red, combines Tempranillo and Graciano from the oldest, highest-elevation north-facing plots. All grapes are hand-harvested and triple-selected in the vineyard. Sustainable practices are followed throughout, including organic fertilizers and the exclusion of herbicides.

• Varieties grown: Tempranillo, Graciano, Viura, Malvasia
• Principal red is 100% Tempranillo aged 13 months in predominantly French oak
• Aurus blends Tempranillo and Graciano from oldest vines on north-facing high-elevation sites
• Calvario flagship sourced from a single vineyard planted in 1945
• Hand-harvested, triple-selected; no herbicides, organic fertilizers used

Miguel Ángel de Gregorio is widely recognised as Spain's first 'terroirist,' a title that reflects the scale of his influence on modern Rioja. At a time when the appellation was defined by large-house blending across subzones, Allende insisted that individual vineyard sites could and should express distinct character. The estate's work helped create the regulatory space for vineyard-specific labelling in Rioja, a designation category that now shapes how producers across the appellation communicate quality and origin.

• De Gregorio recognised as Spain's first 'terroirist'
• Challenged Rioja's tradition of multi-zone blending with a terroir-first approach
• Helped establish legal framework for vineyard-specific designations in DOCa Rioja
• Continues under Miguel Ángel and Mercedes de Gregorio