Bodegas Luberri - Monje Amestoy

Florentino Martínez Monje is a hands-on vinegrower based in the Rioja Alavesa, who built up his knowledge and experience working on others' vines before starting up his own bodega, with his wife, in 1991. This is very much a life-long project and a family one, as his daughters are involved on the management side.

The estate comprises 29 hectares in total, extending from the Ebro River plain at an altitude of 400 metres up to higher levels towards the Sierra Cantabria. The vineyards are set around the town of Elciego mainly, spreading into the neighbouring districts of Laguardia, La Puebla de Labarca and Villabuena de Alava. The land enjoys a continental climate with some Mediterranean influence, and the soils are sandy on ground near the Ebro, and clay and limestone higher up. The winery recognises only too well that these features and factors affect the personality of their main variety, Tempranillo, and the native white Viura grape they also grow. Their understanding produces a range of wines, amounting to around 350,000 bottles a year, which reflect the character of the Rioja Alavesa and its terroir.