Rio Madre Graciano

D.O.Ca. Rioja

Bodegas y Viñedos Ilurce is located in Alfaro, the historical capital of southern Rioja

100% Graciano

Ilurce owns 45 Ha. (110 acres) of estate grown vineyards planted in the foothills of the Sierra de Yerga.

1917-1997

Traditional dry farmed viticulture. All of Ilurce's vineyards are cared for without the use of chemically synthesized fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, or elemental fertilizers. All of the oldest vineyards are dry farmed.

Alluvial, rocky soils deposited by the Ebro River and reinforced by runoff from the Sierra de Yerga. The soils are sandy or clayey in texture and have a high proportion of iron. Unlike northwestern Rioja, the soils have low levels of calcium.

Mediterranean

Hand-harvested bunches are rigorously sorted at the winery before being destemmed but not crushed. Whole berries ferment (inoculated with neutral yeasts) in 5,000L concrete vats and 20,000L stainless steel tanks. There is a small percentage of stem inclusion when ripeness is appropriate. After fermentation and maceration the wine is gently pressed in a horizontal pneumatic press. Malolactic fermentation occurs is split between the fermentation vessel and used barrel.

6 months in used French barrique that are three vintages old to completely neutral.

The Escudero famiily of Alfaro have been growing grapes and producing wine in the foothills of the Sierra de Yerga since the early 20th century. Today, they own 45 Ha. of estate vineyards, which, until 2010, were completely used for the production and sale of bulk wine. In 2010, they began bottling and selling estate produced wines. Rio Madre, their flagship wine, represented a turning point for DOCa Rioja, as it was one of the first brands of monovarietal Graciano on the market sold at an entry level price. Historically used in tiny quantities (only representing 1.5% of total plantings in Rioja) as a blending variety, the Escudero family recognized the potential for quality from their vineyards for an estate bottled inexpensive monovarietal Graciano.