The husband and wife team of Abel Mendoza and Maite Fernandez have been pushing the winemaking envelope in Rioja since 1988. The pair has been growing and crafting single varietal white wines since before it was legal in the region, and their red wines are some of the most exciting expressions of Tempranillo in the world today.

Abel and Maite farm a total of 50 acres across 35 different plots spread throughout la Sonsierra in San Vicente, Labastida and Ábalos. They produce an average of 6,000 cases per year which are split into tiny allocations for various export markets. Extremely sought after, Wine Advocate calls Abel Mendoza ”one of the true vignerons of Rioja and the whole of Spain.”varietal must be reflected above all else.