In the heart of La Rioja Oriental, in Calahorra, stands a winery that has defied the conventions of a region historically dominated by red wines. Bodega Maetierra, founded in 1999, is a pioneering project of the Vintae group that focused on the recovery and appreciation of white grape varieties, especially the Muscat à petits grains, considered one of the most aromatic in the world.
Maetierra was born as an experimental project at the La Rioja School of Enology. The first wines were produced in 2001, and in 2005 the current winery was inaugurated, located next to the Castillo de Maetierra in Calahorra. From the beginning, the winery has maintained an innovative and avant-garde approach, focusing on freshness, fruitiness, and accessibility in its white wines.
The winery is part of the Vintae group, a Rioja-based company with a presence in more than 15 designations of origin in Spain. The technical direction is led by Raúl Acha, a renowned winemaker and a key figure in Maetierra's experimental philosophy.
The Maetierra vineyards span 150 hectares in the municipality of Calahorra. Planted from 1999 onwards, these young vineyards benefit from a continental climate with Mediterranean influence, ideal for producing aromatic whites. The soils are varied, predominantly clay and gravel, and are situated at an average altitude of around 400 meters.
Maetierra works with a wide range of white grape varieties, including Muscat à petits grains, Malvasía, Viura, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Verdejo, Albariño, Treixadura, and Hondarrabi Zuri. They also cultivate some red varieties such as Syrah, although their production is primarily focused on whites.
The winery is equipped with tanks of various capacities and presses adapted for both small-scale production and larger volumes. Fermentation is carried out at low temperatures (13-14 ºC) to preserve the aromas. Additionally, the winery is semi-underground, which allows for maintaining a constant temperature naturally. Harvesting is done at night to preserve the freshness of the grapes.
Among its most well-known wines are Libalis, Melante, and the Spanish White Guerrilla