Artadi Viñas de Gaín 2021 is a pleasant, sober, and fresh red wine, made with tempranillo grapes from vineyards located at high altitude in Rioja Alavesa. An accessible red, with a clean profile and an elegant background of red fruits, ideal as an introduction to the universe of the acclaimed Juan Carlos López de Lacalle.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French oak barrels
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
12 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Artadi, a symbol of the avant-garde in Rioja wine since its founding in 1985, harvests the tempranillo grapes that make up Artadi Viñas de Gaín 2021, a red wine aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It stands out for the clear and elegant expression of the fruit and the subtle tactile sensation of its tannins.
Produced through organic viticulture, based on maximum respect for the environment without using pesticides and herbicides, the qualities of this excellent red allow it to be enjoyed now or rediscovered over time. Pair it with grilled vegetables and fish, stone-cooked chops, duck breast, or rabbit with garlic.
Tasting notes
Artadi Viñas de Gaín shows a bright and clean cherry red color.
Aromas marked by ripe red and black fruit, along with spices, toasted notes, subtle herbal hints, and a touch of liqueur.
Good volume on the entry and as it passes through the mouth, where the ripe fruit that was anticipated on the nose takes center stage. Spicy finish and good acidity.
The winery
Flagbearer of the Rioja renewal of the late eighties, Juan Carlos López de Lacalle is a true vineyard man, a genuine visionary whose unwavering faith in the power of terroir has resulted in some of the finest wines ever crafted in Spain. In the mid-eighties, he led the cooperative Cosecheros Alaveses, which in 1992 became his property under the name Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi. Since then, the Lacalle and Laorden family has steered the project.
Currently, the firm is led by Carlos López de Lacalle, son of Juan Carlos and the fifth generation of this winemaking lineage, who has been recognized as “Revelation Winemaker of La Rioja” by the expert Tim Atkin in his Rioja Special Report 2025.
In 2015, the winery decided to leave the D.O.Ca. Rioja to highlight the unique characteristics of each vineyard. Moreover, since 2002, Artadi has been practicing organic and biodynamic agriculture, culminating in the achievement of organic certification in 2016.
Artadi is the producer of masterpieces such as Viñas de Gain, Pagos Viejos, and Grandes Añadas, but its true flagship is Viña el Pisón, a mythical single-vineyard wine that has earned its creator the global recognition he deserves. In fact, it is one of the few Spanish wines to have achieved a perfect 100-point score from Parker, a milestone reached with the 2004 vintage. Artadi’s commitment to terroir and its mastery in working with tempranillo are a testament to the fact that Rioja Alavesa has entered the 21st century with great distinction.
Artadi owns 56 hectares of vineyards located in the terms of Laguardia and Elvillar de Álava. These are small plots of tempranillo and viura vineyards sheltered by the Sierra de Toloño and nestled in the heart of Sonsierra Alavesa. They thrive on various soil types: limestone, alluvial gravel, silt, and clay, and benefit from a microclimate that combines continental, Atlantic, and Mediterranean influences.