A Family Affair
The Cañas family have devoted their live to viticulture and
winemaking for over two centuries but their contemporary story
begins in 1970 when Luis Cañas and his wife Angeles became the
first winemakers in Rioja Alavesa to bottle their young wine rather
than sell it in bulk.
The mantel was then passed to their only son, Juan Luis, who has
continued their pioneering spirit, cementing them an enviable
reputation as one of the most go-ahead and progressive wineries in
the region.
It all happens in the
vineyard
One of the fundamental philosophies of Luis Cañas is that the best
wines can only be obtained from the best possible grapes - and this
begins and ends in the vineyards.
With 350 hectares of outstanding vineyards, split across 870
different plots, the viticultural department control every aspect.
Each of the plots has its own personality and is categorised and
used for different wines according to its characteristics.
The vineyards supply Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Viura
grapes which are then selected and crafted into a range of fine
Riojas using a combination of modern technology and
traditional know-how.
"If I only ate salads I wouldn't make
the wines I do..."
Food is one of the social foundations of the Basque Country and
feeds into the style of wines crafted by Luis Cañas. Juan Luis
says, 'if I only ate salads, I would not make the wines I do.'
The structure, texture and flavours - fruit wrapped in a silky,
oak laced layer that seems unique to this part of Rioja - lend
themselves to the many culinary delights found both in and outside
Spain today.
This was underlined when Ferran Adrià, who included only 2
wineries from Rioja on his wine list, chose Bodegas Luis Cañas and
sister winery, Bodegas Amaren.