The Manzanos family have over 125 years of history as grape growers, and just in 2002 completed a state of the art winery. This bodega lies in Rioja Alavesa, where the rivers Ebro and Ega join, which affords beautiful views over the landscape. The early death of their father saw the fifth generation, Victor and David Manzanos (still only in their 20s), take up the reins, and judging by recent reviews they are doing an excellent job.

The grapes for this Reserva – Tempranillo with a high proportion of Graciano and Garnacha – all come from high vineyards, at least 40 years old. Even then, only the very best go into the wine. Ageing in small barriques for two years and the rest in bottle has added layers of complexity that will slowly unfurl.

The family founded the property as far back as 1637, and have now been making wine for over 40 years. Unusually these days, they make their fizz by the same method as Champagne, with the second fermentation in bottle, and turn each bottle by hand. The wine is then aged for nearly two years on lees (the spent yeasts that created the fizz during the fermentation in bottle) to ensure rich complexity and full body. It’s organic, too! With ripe apple and peach notes and complex toasty length, it makes a very fine apéritif with toasted salted almonds, jamón iberico, olives and other tapas.

When Señor Andrés Ruberte began making wine from the gnarled old vines of his small estate, the rest of the region was, for the most part, supplying wine in bulk. Theirs was used to add body, depth and colour to lighter reds of France and Spain. However, Andrés had an unshakeable belief in the potential of his wines and decided to set out on his own. This pioneering spirit paid off.

Today Campo de Borja is considered one of Spain's most highly prized regions. And the winery that started with Andrés continues to thrive. Indeed husband and wife team, Miguel and Susana, are local heroes. Regularly picking up awards for their old vine Garnachas. Perla Rosado is their quintessential summer rosé. Full of delicate flavours and subtle elegance.

Altos de Bergasa is from Bodegas La Eralta, a family-owned winery founded in 1990. Quite young in terms of Rioja.

It proudly owns 360 hectares of vineyard throughout the three subregions, with this luscious Gran Reserva named after its first plots, planted in the village of Bergasa.

At their modern cellars, they boast 10,000 French and American oak barrels, within which they age their finest wines – from Crianza to this exceptional Gran Reserva.

For this wine, they only age their finest grapes, all Tempranillo, ageing the wine at least a year in barrel and the rest of the time in bottle.

Despite its 7 years' age, it is still fairly youthful. Delicious drinking now, we recommend early opening and decanting to release all the flavours.