Artadi

Artadi began in 1985 as a cooperative of 13 growers in Rioja Alavesa. Juan Carlos López de Lacalle and his family purchased the operation in 1992, setting in motion a transformation from a traditional cooperative into a quality-driven estate with a singular focus on terroir expression. The producer steadily built a reputation for capturing the character of individual vineyard sites, a philosophy that culminated in one of the most consequential decisions in modern Spanish wine: walking away from the DOCa Rioja appellation at the close of 2015 to label its wines as Vino de Tierra and Vino de Mesa.

• Founded 1985 as a cooperative; acquired by the López de Lacalle family in 1992
• Transformation focused on single-vineyard wines and terroir expression
• Withdrew from DOCa Rioja at end of 2015 to pursue site-specific designations
• Today led by Carlos López de Lacalle, son of founder Juan Carlos

Artadi farms between 56 and 84 hectares in Rioja Alavesa, with vineyards positioned at elevations ranging from 480 to 600 meters, making them among the highest in the entire Rioja region. The Sierra Cantabria mountain range provides natural protection, while cooling Atlantic air and lengthy sun exposure shape a climate well-suited to slow, even ripening. Soils are geologically diverse, featuring limestone, clay, gravel, and calcareous material. This combination of altitude, shelter, and varied geology is central to Artadi's argument that its vineyard sites deserve individual recognition rather than a collective regional label.

• Elevations of 480-600 meters, among the highest in Rioja
• Sierra Cantabria protects vineyards from harsh northern weather
• Soils include limestone, clay, gravel, and calcareous material
• Atlantic air provides cooling influence, preserving freshness and acidity

Tempranillo is the dominant variety across Artadi's portfolio, with white grapes including Viura, Hondarrabi Zuri, and Hondarrabi Beltza also grown. The estate produces single-vineyard wines from sites including El Pisón, La Poza de Ballesteros, Valdeginés, El Carretil, San Lázaro, Quintanilla, and La Hoya. El Pisón is the flagship: a 2.4-hectare plot planted in 1945, bottled as a single-vineyard wine since 1991. The 2004 vintage received 100 points from Robert Parker. Rather than American oak, Artadi ages its wines in French and Austrian oak from Stockinger, reinforcing the house's commitment to precision and elegance over power.

• El Pisón: 2.4-hectare plot planted 1945, single-vineyard wine since 1991
• 2004 El Pisón awarded 100 points by Robert Parker
• Ages wines in French oak and Austrian Stockinger oak, not American oak
• Seven named single-vineyard wines in the portfolio

Artadi committed to organic and biodynamic viticulture in 2002, receiving full organic certification in 2016. This approach reflects the broader philosophy driving the producer: that the vineyard, farmed with as little intervention as possible, is the ultimate source of wine quality. The López de Lacalle family also owns Artazu in Navarra and El Sequé in Alicante, applying the same terroir-first principles across all three estates.

• Organic and biodynamic farming adopted from 2002
• Full organic certification achieved in 2016
• Same philosophy extended to sister estates Artazu (Navarra) and El Sequé (Alicante)
• Low-intervention viticulture underpins the entire quality strategy