A perfect Rioja education: Lopez de Haro three pack
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When modern vision meets ancient tradition in Spain’s golden mile of wine
Here’s something I love about wine: sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected places. Lopez de Haro isn’t named after some centuries-old winemaking dynasty—it’s actually named after a completely different kind of dynasty altogether. The original Lopez de Haro was a powerful medieval family, lords of Vizcaya in the Basque Country (fun fact: the main street in Bilbao is called Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro, and has a statue dedicated to Don Diego). So what does medieval Basque nobility have to do with modern Rioja winemaking?
Everything, as it turns out.
When the Arambarri family—the folks behind the Vintae wine group—bought their first significant vineyard in 2003, it happened to be owned by descendants of that same López de Haro lineage. Rather than slap their own name on the winery, they paid homage to the land’s history. It’s a classy move that tells you something important about their philosophy: respect the past, but don’t be afraid to innovate for the future.
Location, Location, Location (and Why It Matters)
If you know Rioja, you know that San Vicente de la Sonsierra isn’t just any old wine town—it’s often called “the golden mile of wine” or “the heart of Rioja.” This isn’t marketing hyperbole. This is where you’ll find some of the most coveted Tempranillo vineyards in all of Spain.
Picture this: you’re standing on a hill surrounded by centuries-old stone wine presses (yes, they’re still there), with the Sierra del Toloño mountains protecting you from harsh northern winds, and the Ebro River providing just enough moisture below. The climate here is Goldilocks perfect—not too hot, not too cold, with enough wind to keep the vines healthy but not enough to stress them out.
The soils? Poor and rocky, exactly what Tempranillo loves. When vines have to struggle a bit, they produce smaller, more concentrated grapes. It’s like the agricultural equivalent of “no pain, no gain.”
The Lopez de Haro Vision: Modern Classics
Here’s where things get interesting. Most Rioja wineries fall into one of two camps: the traditionalists who’ve been doing things the same way for generations, or the modernists who throw tradition out the window in favor of international styles. Lopez de Haro does something different—they thread the needle between both approaches.
Their technical director, Raúl Acha, is a fifth-generation Rioja winemaker (the guy literally started picking grapes at age 6), but he’s not stuck in the past. The philosophy here is simple: use traditional techniques where they make sense, embrace modern technology where it improves quality, and always, always focus on what’s in the glass rather than what’s trendy.
** Here’s our Rioja infographic sheet, free to download! **
A Rioja Education in Three Acts
What makes this three-pack so perfect is that it tells the complete Rioja story—from youthful exuberance to mature complexity. Each wine represents a different stage in the traditional Rioja aging hierarchy, made by the same winemaker, from the same vineyards, in the same style. It’s like watching an incredible three act play.
Act I: Crianza 2021 – The Foundation
The 2021 Crianza is where the Lopez de Haro story begins, and it’s a hell of a good starting point. This wine shows what happens when you give Tempranillo just enough oak to add complexity without overwhelming the fruit. After 12 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, you’re getting those pleasing and well-structured characteristics with savory earth notes, attractive spices, and early summer blackberries.
What I love about this Crianza is that it tastes like Rioja. Not like some international style trying to please everyone, but like honest-to-goodness Spanish wine made by people who understand their terroir. The 2021 vintage gives you that perfect balance of freshness and development—young enough to be vibrant, mature enough to show real character.
This is your Tuesday night wine that drinks like it costs twice the price. It’s also your perfect introduction to what makes Rioja special: that interplay between fruit, earth, and oak that defines the region’s best wines.
Food pairing: This is begging for grilled lamb, roasted vegetables, or anything with smoked paprika.
Act II: Reserva 2019 – The Sweet Spot
If the Crianza is the foundation, the 2019 Reserva is the payoff. After 20 months in oak (a careful blend of French and American), this wine shows what happens when you give great Tempranillo the time it deserves. The 2019 vintage was exceptional in Rioja—one of those years where everything just clicked.
The additional oak aging adds layers without adding weight. You’re getting that classic “ruby red color with roof tile rim” that signals proper barrel aging, plus those primary aromas of ripe fruit accompanied by complex spicy and balsamic notes and a slight touch of vanilla. But here’s the key: it’s balanced. The oak serves the wine rather than dominating it.
This is where Lopez de Haro really shows their chops. A lot of producers at this level either go too light (making wines that taste like slightly oakier Crianzas) or too heavy (making wines that taste like vanilla bombs). Lopez de Haro hits that sweet spot where the additional aging creates genuine complexity.
The 2019 Reserva is round and unctuous with ripe and sweet tannins that give the wine length and elegance. It’s approachable now but has the structure to improve for several more years.
Food pairing: This is your special occasion wine—perfect with roasted beef, aged cheeses, or anything that deserves a wine with real presence.
Act III: Gran Reserva 2014 – The Master Class
And here’s where things get serious. The 2014 Gran Reserva represents nearly a decade of careful aging—first in barrel, then in bottle—and it shows every bit of that patience and care. This is classic Rioja at its finest, described by one reviewer as: “bright cherry-red color with roof tile tones, high aromatic intensity, complex on the nose with coffee, vanilla, roast, and balsamic notes.”
The 2014 vintage was one of those special years in Rioja—great weather, perfect harvest conditions, and wines with both power and elegance. After all that aging, you’re getting a wine that’s still quite youthful and fruit-expressive on the nose for a Gran Reserva, but with added complexity: pencil lead, dark walnuts, dark earth and chocolate layered underneath the dark fruit.
What sets great Gran Reserva apart from merely good Gran Reserva is integration. All those flavors—fruit, oak, earth, spice—need to work together rather than fighting for attention. The Lopez de Haro 2014 nails this balance. It’s juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate with tight, focused tannins and a long, extensive finish. And it’s drinking PERFECTLY right now.
This isn’t a wine you rush through. It’s a wine you contemplate, discuss, and remember.
Food pairing: This deserves your best effort—prime rib, braised short ribs, or that special cheese you’ve been saving.
Why This Three-Pack Matters
In a wine world that often feels obsessed with the next new thing, this Lopez de Haro trio represents something refreshing: a commitment to showing what traditional Rioja aging can achieve when it’s done right. Each wine builds on the last, showing how time and oak transform the same basic materials into something increasingly complex and compelling.
More importantly, these wines taste like they come from somewhere. They’re not trying to be international crowd-pleasers—they’re trying to be the best expressions of San Vicente de la Sonsierra terroir at three different stages of development.
For anyone trying to understand what makes Rioja special, this is your crash course. For anyone who already loves Rioja, this is your reminder of why you fell in love with the region in the first place.
The Bottom Line
The beauty of this three-pack isn’t just that you get three excellent wines (though you do). It’s that you get three chapters of the same story, told by winemakers who understand that great Rioja isn’t about following rules or breaking them—it’s about expressing your place honestly at different stages of a wine’s life.
These aren’t revolutionary wines. They’re evolutionary ones. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you want in your glass—and your cellar.
This Lopez de Haro three-pack represents some of the best bang-for-the-buck Rioja education available today. Whether you’re new to Spanish wine or a longtime Rioja lover, these three bottles will remind you why this region has captivated wine lovers for generations.
Jason Kallsen
Sommelier and founder/owner of Twin Cities Wine Education
Offer and special pricing are available as inventory lasts