Marqués de Murrieta

Founded in 1852 by Luciano de Murrieta, Marqués de Murrieta is one of Rioja's most historic estates and among the very first to bottle wine under its own name. Located within the Rioja Alta subzone and today owned by the Dalmau family, the estate cultivates approximately 300 hectares of its own vineyards across clay-limestone soils. It remains committed to traditionally structured, oak-aged wines that mature with exceptional grace over decades.

Quick Facts

• Location: Logroño, Rioja Alta, Spain
• Founded: 1852
• Founder: Luciano de Murrieta
• Classification: Rioja DOCa
• Ownership: Dalmau family
• Estate size: Approximately 300 hectares of owned vineyards
• Principal grapes: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha
• Soils: Clay-limestone
• Grand Vin: Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial
• Modern expression: Dalmau
• Reserva wine: Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Style: Traditionally structured wines with extended oak ageing and exceptional longevity
• Ageing potential: 15 to 30+ years for Gran Reservas, 10 to 20 years for Reservas

A Pioneer of Bottled Rioja

Luciano de Murrieta established the estate in 1852 during a transformative period for Rioja, introducing techniques observed during time spent in Bordeaux. He became one of the first producers in the region to bottle wine under an estate label rather than selling in bulk, a practice that fundamentally reshaped Rioja's identity and commercial reach.

The property was elevated to the title Marqués de Murrieta in 1911, reflecting both its historical significance and the prestige of its wines. Ownership passed to Vicente Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell, in 1983, and subsequently to the Dalmau family, who continue the estate's commitment to classical winemaking and patient cellar maturation.

The Estate Vineyard and Rioja Alta Terroir

Marqués de Murrieta controls roughly 300 hectares of contiguous vineyard surrounding its historic winery near Logroño. These holdings lie entirely within the Rioja Alta subzone, recognised for its moderate continental climate, balanced rainfall and clay-limestone soils that encourage structured, age-worthy wines.

Tempranillo forms the foundation of the estate's plantings, contributing elegance, aromatic complexity and fine tannins. Graciano adds tension and aromatic lift, while Mazuelo contributes colour and structure. Small parcels of Garnacha provide fruit and warmth to certain blends. This diversity allows the winemaking team to craft wines of balance and depth across vintages.

The estate's single-property status enables meticulous control from vineyard to cellar, ensuring consistency and expression rooted in a unified terroir.

Castillo Ygay and the Art of Extended Ageing

At the summit of the portfolio stands Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, one of Spain's most celebrated and collectible wines. Produced only in exceptional vintages, it receives extraordinarily long maturation in American oak barrels followed by extended bottle age before release, often decades after harvest.

The wine combines concentrated fruit, dried flowers, tobacco, cedar and savoury spice with a structure built to evolve gracefully for thirty years or more. Its rarity, complexity and historical continuity have made it a reference point for traditionally aged Rioja.

Dalmau, introduced in the 1990s, represents a more modern interpretation. Dominated by Tempranillo with smaller proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano, it is matured in new French oak and expresses concentrated fruit, refined tannins and a more immediate, internationally styled profile while retaining the estate's commitment to balance and longevity.

Tradition Anchored in Oak and Time

Marqués de Murrieta's winemaking philosophy centres on extended oak ageing, primarily in American oak barrels that impart characteristic notes of vanilla, coconut and warm spice. Reservas typically spend two to three years in barrel, while Gran Reservas may remain in wood for four years or longer before bottling.

This patient approach softens tannins, integrates oak and allows wines to develop tertiary complexity while preserving freshness. The result is a collection distinguished by aromatic complexity, savoury depth and the refined, evolved character that defines classical Rioja at its finest.