Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Dinastia Vivanco winery in La Rioja, Spain. The experience was unparalleled as I learned about four generations of wine making in Spain.

From the winery’s website: The origins of the wine-making vocation of the Vivanco family date back to the year 1915; to the wine-making district of the village of Alberite, La Rioja, where Pedro Vivanco Gonzalez started to make wine for family use from his vineyards. In 1940 he bought a small wine cellar business in the same village. A curious caption had been carved over the door of that cellar reading: “he who walks by and is thirsty, if the door is, should enter and drink”.

The winery is located in Briones, Spain. It is a privileged enclave in La Rioja in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountain range and on the banks of the River Ebro. This allows for an incredible mild microclimate and extraordinary clay soils. There are over 300 hectares of vineyards and Dinastia Vivanco wines are made exclusively from these family vineyards. The intimate knowledge of these vineyards, their unique character and their potential ensures the families ability to select only the best grapes.

The underground Bodega’s protect and control the individual fermentation of each type of wine and long maceration. It is in the dark, climate controlled depths of the Bodega that wine can sit in vats and barrels made from French and American oak, it is here the wine acquires the subtle nuances of the wood, ultimately enhancing the characteristics of the wine itself.

Dinastia Vivanco is one of the biggest winery’s in Spain. It also houses the family residence, museum, foundation, Bodega and vineyard. My visit was breathtaking, delicious and an informative glance into the world of wine.

Spain’s incredible countryside and deep history are deeply intertwined in the history of Dinastia Vivanco, it’s truly a sight to be admired if you find your way over to that area of Europe. Sometimes traveling off the beaten path yields incredible surprises. Not much can beat a delicious glass of wine and a spectacular view.