Wine Legend: R López de Heredia, Viña Tondonia Blanco 1964, Rioja, Spain
Bottles produced 16,000
Composition 90% Viura, 10% Malvasia
Alcohol 12%
Release price 2,000 pesetas (€12)
Price today £900
A legend because…
This famous producer, one of the most traditional in Spain, was founded in Rioja in 1877. Its wines, white as well as red, are given prolonged ageing in casks and released later than most modern Riojas. They are renowned for their ageability, and the slight oxidation inherent in the ageing process gives the wines remarkable stability. 1964 was an outstanding vintage for both red and white Rioja.
Looking back
The 150ha property is owned by the López de Heredia family, represented since the 1990s by María José, her winemaker sister Mercedes and brother Julio César, all fourth generation. Their father Pedro, born in 1928, ran the company from 1955 onwards without help from his four siblings. Money was tight, so there was little investment in the cellars, and up to 20 vintages would have been ageing there at any one time. The wines were adored by fans for their individual style, but they weren’t widely accepted. However, in recent years they have soared into fashion and María José now has to sell certain vintages on allocation.
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Translated by ICY
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