Artuke Rioja 2022

dried cranberry, dried red cherry, strawberry leaf, and dried hibiscus petal

Explorers Club members may remember the 2021 vintage of this wine as a feature in April, 2023. We love this as a “modernist” Rioja that is actually made in a style that was popular before the Spanish Civil War. Today there are a lot of young produces who have returned to this style, which for our lesson we will call modernist, but is actually the old style.

Artuke is made by the de Miguel family, the name being a mashup of their two son’s names, Arturo and Kiki. For 4 generations they have been growers in the Rioja Alavesa region, but their father began bottling under their own label in 1991. Since taking over a few years ago the brothers have brought greater attention to Rioja Alavesa, inspiring other young winegrowers throughout the region, all while sticking to traditional, low-intervention practices.

All fruit is harvested by hand, sourced from multiple vineyard sites across the family’s holdings. This means that some of the vines used in this cuvée are over 110 years old, while others were planted as recently as 2005. In making this wine, the brothers carry on one of Rioja’s oldest indigenous traditions, utilizing whole-cluster fermentation and carbonic maceration techniques similar to many examples of cru Beaujolais. Wines made in this manner were once held in high regard in Rioja Alavesa, and many younger winemakers are experimenting with these methods again. Without destemming, the fruit, both red and white, is transferred to stainless steel tanks where partial carbonic maceration takes place. Once dry, the wine is transferred to cement tanks where it matures for 5 months before bottling.

When you open this wine, we strongly recommend decanting for up to half an hour. In addition, do not be afraid to serve it with a slight chill, which will highlight the semi-carbonic nature of this wine. On the palate, you will find notes of dried cranberry, dried red cherry, strawberry leaf, and dried hibiscus petal. Drink now through 2028 with grilled hamburgers, grilled swordfish or sausage with peppers and onions.