November 20th: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria & Teso la Monja with Mikel Eguren
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get your tickets
In partnership with Jorge Ordóñez Selections.
Since 1870, the Eguren family has been dedicated to cultivating vines in Rioja. Over five generations, they've passed down a deep knowledge of winemaking. The Eguren's philosophy is rooted in their role as grape growers first, believing that great wines begin in the vineyard. Today, they manage six wineries, each with its own distinct style and commitment to quality. These include Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria, where traditional methods meet innovation to produce wines of character, and Teso la Monja, renowned for its exclusive wines from the Toro region.
The family's dedication has earned their wines national and international acclaim, making them a trusted name in Spanish winemaking.
Leading this tasting will be Mikel Eguren, representing the family and bringing a deep focus on the Rioja and Toro regions. Mikel is a graduate of Saint Louis University and IE in Madrid, he is currently completing his WSET Diploma in London. With over 10 years of experience, he serves as Export Manager and Board Member of Sierra Cantabria.
Mikel Eguren
BACKGROUND
VIÑEDOS Y BODEGAS SIERRA CANTABRIA
Located at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountains in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a town known for its rich winemaking heritage, Bodegas Sierra Cantabria was founded in 1957 by Guillermo Eguren, a visionary who saw the potential in his family's vineyards. Built on a commitment to crafting high-quality estate wines in Rioja, the winery marked a new era for the Eguren family, which had been growing vines and selling grapes in this area since the 1870s.
El Vallardo | Photo Credits: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria
La Veguilla | Photo Credits: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria
In 1995, the Eguren family launched Viñedos Sierra Cantabria to showcase wines from their finest vineyards, each offering a distinct expression of Tempranillo. This project focuses on the family's collection of single-vineyard sites, producing a series of declassified, small-production boutique wines crafted to highlight the unique microclimate, soil, and terroir of each vineyard. This approach demonstrates the range of Tempranillo expressions achievable within a single subzone of Rioja.
Now led by the fourth generation, with Marcos Eguren as winemaker and his brother Miguel Angel Eguren as general manager, the family continues their tradition as viticulturists first. They prioritize Tempranillo, which thrives in the northern Rioja climate, while Garnacha and Graciano play only minor roles due to their variable ripening in the area.
Eguren Family | Photo Credits: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria
Today, the original wines of Bodegas Sierra Cantabria are combined with those under the Viñedos Sierra Cantabria brand, forming a unified collection under Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria.
Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria produces classic Rioja-style wines.
TESO LA MONJA
Teso La Monja also marked a new chapter for the Eguren family and the Toro appellation. Founded in 2007 by winemakers Marcos and Miguel Angel Eguren, Teso La Monja reflects the family's commitment to crafting elegant wines in a region they fell in love with. Known for its unique, original clone of Tempranillo and ungrafted vines, Toro offered the Eguren family an inspiring new challenge after generations of cultivating Tempranillo in Rioja Alavesa.
Marcos & Miguel Eguren | Photo Credits: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria
In creating Teso La Monja, the Egurens selected vineyards in Toro's northernmost area, where the soil's higher concentration of rounded stones brings a distinct silkiness and refinement to the wines. Guided by Marcos Eguren, often celebrated as one of Spain's top winemakers, and his son Eduardo Eguren, Teso La Monja produces wines that balance Toro's intensity with a surprising elegance.
Teso la Monja - Toro | Photo Credits: Viñedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva 2015
- Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque 2021
- Teso La Monja Almirez 2020
- Teso La Monja Victorino 2020
- Teso La Monja Alabaster 2020