Carlos Serres Rioja Crianza 2019 (half bottle)

French vigneron-wine consultant Charles Serres left Bordeaux for Spain in the nineteenth century to escape the ravages of villainous vine louse Phylloxera, which was devastating the country. Founding Bodega Carlos Serres in 1896 in the Haro Station District in Rioja, Serres merged wine making techniques imported from France with native Rioja grapes to make elegant, Bordeaux-style wine.

The company's 60 hectare vineyard, Finca El Estanque, in south-eastern Haro has mostly chalky-clay soils with a high gravel content, perfect for growing Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, Maturana Tinta and Viura, which are used to make their Reservas, Gran Reservas and limited production Onomástica. Charles' role as winegrower-exporter and his instrumental role in the formation of the Rioja Wine Exporters Syndicate in 1907, precursor of today’s Rioja Designation of Origin Control Board, makes him one of the key personalities in Rioja’s vinous history.