Bodegas Roda

Bodegas Roda was founded in 1987 by Mario Rottlant and Carmen Daurella, a Barcelona family deeply involved in Spain's fine wine distribution sector. The winery name is a contraction of their surnames: Ro from Rottlant, Da from Daurella. Although the project was conceived in 1987, physical construction of the bodega began in 1991 and was completed in 2001, built above a 19th-century underground cellar in Haro's prestigious Barrio de la Estación, on the banks of the Ebro River. The district is home to some of Rioja's most storied producers, and Roda's location at its heart is no accident: a self-financed vineyard analysis guided founders to Rioja Alta as the ideal base for their ambitions.

• Founded 1987 by Mario Rottlant and Carmen Daurella; RODA is a contraction of their surnames
• Located in the Barrio de la Estación, Haro, above a 19th-century underground calado
• Winery construction spanned 1991 to 2001 in three architectural phases

When Roda released its first wines from the 1992 vintage, it was swimming against the Rioja tide. While the region was still largely defined by long aging in American oak and the blending of multiple years, Roda chose French oak exclusively, rejected multi-vintage blending, and placed the vineyard at the center of every winemaking decision. This approach, now widely imitated, demonstrated that modern viticultural techniques and terroir-driven thinking could produce wines of international caliber while maintaining Rioja's essential character. The winery has since funded ongoing R&D, dedicating 7% of turnover to research since 1998, and has received the Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection certification from the Spanish Wine Federation.

• Rejected American oak and multi-vintage blending from the outset, a revolutionary stance in late-1980s Rioja
• Exclusively French oak across the entire range; no wines filtered or fined with synthetic agents
• Dedicate 7% of gross turnover annually to research and development since 1998
• Holds Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection certification, developed by the Spanish Wine Federation in 2015

Roda controls 120 hectares of vineyard in Rioja Alta, of which 75 hectares are self-owned and the remainder under long-term agreements with local growers; all sites are managed directly by the Roda team. The core vineyards are old bush vines (en vaso) of 35 to over 100 years of age, dry-farmed on predominantly sandstone and clay-limestone soils around Haro. Yields are strictly limited to 1.5 kg per vine. In 2019, the winery acquired a 10-hectare plot in Cellorigo at higher altitude to address climate change, and in 2021 planted Tempranillo there using a keyline design to retain rainwater. The Enit research vineyard, planted in 2000 at 550 metres altitude near Cubillas, preserves 582 distinct cultivars of Riojan vines, the fruit of a three-year identification programme that catalogued 552 Tempranillo clones, from which 20 were selected for propagation.

• 120 hectares total: 75 hectares self-owned, remainder managed under grower agreements
• Old bush vines (en vaso), 35 to over 100 years old, dry-farmed on sandstone and clay-limestone; yields capped at 1.5 kg per vine
• Enit research vineyard at 550m near Cubillas: 582 cultivars preserved; 552 Tempranillo clones identified, 20 selected for propagation
• 2019 Cellorigo purchase adds high-altitude plots; Tempranillo planted in 2021 using keyline design to manage water retention

Roda's portfolio comprises five wines. SELA, added in 2008, comes from the estate's youngest bush vines (15 to 30 years old), is a Tempranillo-dominant blend aged 12 months in used French oak, and is designed for earlier drinking. RODA is the flagship red, built from parcels where Tempranillo has ripened to a red-fruit profile; the current blend runs approximately 89% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, and 6% Garnacha, aged 14 months in 40% new French oak and released after a further 20 months in bottle. RODA I selects darker-fruited, more structured Tempranillo parcels, typically blended with Graciano, and sees 16 months in 50% new French oak plus 20 months in bottle. CIRSION, first released commercially from the 1998 vintage, is a plant-by-plant selection of vines exhibiting naturally long-chain tannins, aged just 8 months in 100% new French oak. RODA I Blanco, first released from the 2019 vintage, is a field blend of old-vine Viura with Malvasía de Rioja and Garnacha Blanca.

• SELA: 15-30 year old bush vines, 12 months used French oak, drink on release
• RODA: approx. 89% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 6% Garnacha; 14 months 40% new French oak; 20 months bottle age before release
• RODA I: darker-fruit Tempranillo with Graciano; 16 months in 50% new French oak, 20 months in bottle
• CIRSION: plant-by-plant tannin selection; 8 months 100% new French oak; only made in exceptional vintages; first commercial release 1998

Roda's wines occupy a distinct space between classic and modern Rioja. RODA pursues a red-fruit profile, with cherry, raspberry, and sweet spice carrying into a fresh, silky, and continuous palate. RODA I moves toward darker fruit, mineral depth, and a more structured frame, while retaining the house hallmark of polished, long-chain tannins. CIRSION is the fullest expression of this tannin philosophy: enormous volume paired with minimal weight, silky and enveloping on the palate, with violet, dark berry, and spice on the nose. Across the range, the insistence on spontaneous fermentation, French oak vats, gravity decanting, and bottling without filtration or fining preserves the character of each vineyard and vintage. The goal, articulated by General Manager Agustín Santolaya, is wines that find a balance between volume and airiness, made to enjoy at the table rather than to impress at a tasting.

• RODA: red cherry and raspberry profile, sweet spice, fresh and silky palate with well-integrated oak
• RODA I: darker fruit, mineral and graphite complexity, more structured tannins, built for longer cellaring
• CIRSION: enormous palate volume with minimal weight; silky, long-chain tannins; violet, dark berry, fresh spice
• All reds fermented spontaneously in French oak vats; bottled unfiltered and unfined after gravity decanting

Since its first commercial releases in 1996, Roda has accumulated consistent critical acclaim across the range. CIRSION 2021 was named Best Wine in the XVII Blind Tasting of the Best Wines of Spain, organised by restaurant Escánez in Garrucha, Almería, and received 100 points in the Gourmets Guide, 99 points each from James Suckling and Proensa, and 96 points each from The Wine Advocate and Tim Atkin in 2025 editions. The winery has also expanded its group: Bodegas La Horra, founded in 2009 in Ribera del Duero, produces CORIMBO and CORIMBO I from Tinta del País. Roda's wines are currently sold in more than 50 countries worldwide, and the bodega remains a benchmark for the modern, terroir-driven school of Rioja.

• CIRSION 2021: 100 Gourmets Guide, 99 James Suckling, 99 Proensa, 96 Wine Advocate, 96 Tim Atkin (2025 editions)
• CIRSION 2021 named Best Wine, XVII Blind Tasting of the Best Wines of Spain (restaurant Escánez, Almería)
• Group also includes Bodegas La Horra (founded 2009, Ribera del Duero) and Aubocassa olive oil estate in Mallorca
• Wines distributed in more than 50 countries; winery holds Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection certification