Artadi is somewhat of a newcomer in terms of Rioja – established in 1985 – but quickly rose to the highest level of quality in Rioja. Artadi has been hugely successful with vineyards in Navarra (Artazu) and Alicante (El Segue) and is also among the best of those appellations. The range includes excellent village wines and several single vineyard wines, all exemplary quality. The top wine is Vina El Pison, from a 2.4-hectare single vineyard of very old vines near Laguardia. Since 2015 Artadi chose no longer to use the DOCa of Rioja, rather labelling the wines “Laguardia”. Regardless of classification, this is a powerful yet extremely elegant representation of wines from Rioja, of which it is at least geographically part. Vina El Pison is Artadi’s flagship wine. Produced from a 2.4-hectare vineyard plot, located at 480 meters altitude in Laguardia and with vines planted in 1945, it is 100% Tempranillo. El Pison ferments for 10-12 days with daily pigeage and pumping over. This wine is suitable for both men and women.
