Bodegas Vizcarra

The Vizcarra family's connection to viticulture in Ribera del Duero stretches back to 1780, long before the region held its current international reputation. José Manuel Vizcarra Aguado founded the modern winery in the 1980s, planting vineyards in a region that was at the time largely undeveloped on the world wine stage. His son Juan Carlos Vizcarra took the operation in a new direction in 1991, beginning estate bottling from a garage and earning the estate its place as a founding figure of Spain's garagiste movement. A gravity-fed winery facility, eliminating all pumps from the winemaking process, was inaugurated in 2007.

• Family vineyard roots date to 1780 in the Ribera del Duero region
• Modern winery established in the 1980s when the region was still undeveloped
• Estate bottling began in 1991 in a garage, defining Vizcarra as a garagiste pioneer
• New gravity-fed winery opened in 2007, removing all pump use from production

Vizcarra farms approximately 55 hectares total, with around 30 hectares in direct ownership, across vineyard sites in Mambrilla de Castrejón and Roa de Duero. Elevations range from 820 to 850 meters above sea level, well above the Ribera del Duero average, which drives pronounced diurnal temperature variation. This extreme continental climate, combined with soils of clay, limestone, and gravel, shapes wines with natural acidity and mineral tension. The estate grows Tempranillo (known locally as Tinto Fino), Garnacha, and Merlot.

• Vineyards sit at 820-850 meters elevation in an extreme continental climate
• Soils are a mix of clay, limestone, and gravel
• Primary grape is Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), alongside Garnacha and Merlot
• Approximately 30 hectares in direct ownership within the 55-hectare total holdings

Vizcarra's winemaking centers on precision, restraint, and minimal intervention. Since 2007, every step of production in the new facility has been carried out by gravity, with no pumps used at any stage. This approach preserves the integrity of fruit and structure without mechanical stress. The estate also made history in 1995 by producing the first carbonic maceration wine in Ribera del Duero, demonstrating a willingness to push the region's boundaries. The resulting wines are described as elegant and balanced, with mineral tension and acidity rather than extracted power.

• All winemaking performed by gravity flow since 2007, with no pumps used
• First carbonic maceration wine in Ribera del Duero produced in 1995
• Style emphasizes elegance, balance, and mineral tension over power and extraction
• Processes approximately 400,000 kg of grapes annually

Vizcarra's portfolio includes Senda del Oro, Vizcarra 15 Meses, JC Vizcarra, Celia, Inés, and Torralvo. The two flagship wines, Celia and Inés, carry a personal significance as they are named after Juan Carlos's daughters. The estate consistently earns 90-plus-point scores from major critics including Robert Parker. With 40% of production exported and the United States serving as the primary export market, Vizcarra has built a strong international following for its restrained, terroir-driven style.

• Flagship wines Celia and Inés are named after Juan Carlos Vizcarra's daughters
• Core range also includes Senda del Oro, Vizcarra 15 Meses, JC Vizcarra, and Torralvo
• Consistently achieves 90+ point scores from Robert Parker and other major critics
• Exports 40% of production; United States is the top export market