Viña Ilusión is an organic estate winery in Rioja, Spain. It was created after Martin A Alonso Etayo and his wife Gloria Plaza Medina bought a farm (finca) growing vegetables, olives, membrillos, and various fruits in 1992 and started converting it to vines.

Vineyards: 2017 5 hectares (12.35 acres) of estate vineyards (75% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Graciano, 5% Garnacha) plus purchased grapes from 16 hectares (39.5 acres). The estate vines are in the Cidacos valley, in the ‘faldas del monte Isasa’, La Rioja at 600-700 metres (1,970-2,300 feet). The climate is influenced by the Ebro valley. This is where the owners built their house.

Organics: Try to emulate to the Masanobu Fukuoka method of permaculture. Green cover in the form of cereals and legumes. The sheep manure (from mountain herds) used for compost also contains seeds which germinate when the compost is spread on the vines. Fruit trees in and around the vineyard. 500g/ha per year of copper, and 2 or 3 sulfur treatments.

Biodynamics: 2011 No biodynamics up to and including 2011.

Organic certification: 1992 Organic practices were adopted since the current owners acquired the estate in 1992. | 2003 First vintage with full organic certification. 2012 Still certified organic.

Red wines

Rioja Tinto, Viña Ilusión: 2007 Decent at Millésime Bio January 2009. | 2010 Bit of fizz and grubbiness but OK at Millésime Bio January 2012. | 2011 Vat sample, sweet fruit and some fizz at Millésime Bio January 2012. | 2014 44mg/l total sulphites and albumin fined (RAW May 2015 catalogue). | 2015 Bit of green and reduction in May 2017 (Real Wine Fair, Tobacco Dock, London 07th May 2017).

Rioja Tinto, Prana | 2014 Debut. Carbonic maceration. 47mg/l total sulphites, albumin fined (RAW May 2015 catalogue).

Contact

Viña Ilusión

Apdo Correos nº11

E-26580 Arnedo (La Rioja), Spain

Tel+34 691.441.429