Martin A. Alonso Etayo

1992

Certified Organic in 1992 by Ecyssa

Castilla y León

Rioja

Continental Mediterranean climate

600-700 meters elevation

Calcareous and clay soils

20ha in land, 15ha used for winemaking

Btw 8,000-10,000 bottles

About the Producer
Martin and his wife Gloria bought land located at the Isasa’s hillside which is part of the Cidacos Valley in 1992. Located at a bit of a high altitude, around 600-700 meters, but with the Cidacos Valley influence and the microclimate of this area, they are able to grow Mediterranean plants such as olive and almond trees as well as their vineyards. They adopted organic farming since the beginning. The method is an eclectic one open to new ideas, based it in Fukuoka, “permaculture”, Jean Marie Roger and Biodynamics. Throughthese influences and on Martin's 22+ years of experience, they have achieved a simple and effective method that improves and regenerates the soil. From these grapes comes the classic Viña Illusion wines. (Certified Organic by Ecyssa beginning back in 1992.)

100% Tempranillo Blanco, farmed certified organically from vines around 35 years of age. Hand harvested, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel. Aged only a short bit of time in tank. Bottled with minimal SO2 additions.

Producer Viña Ilusion
Category Wine - Still - White
Grape variety Tempranillo Blanco
Region Rioja, Spain
Appellation Rioja
Feature Organic
Vintage 2021
Alcohol by volume 13.5%

While Rioja has the most illustrious reputation in winegrowing Spain, unfortunately the wines are often so overly manipulated that they have lost their sense of place. This is what makes the beautifully non-interventionist Rioja of Viña Ilusión so exciting; their wine is simply the essence of their vineyard and the way it’s farmed. Drawing inspiration from the writings of Masanobu Fukuoka, pioneer of “do-nothing” natural farming, Martin Alonso and Gloria Plaza planted their 5ha, limestone vineyard in 1992. Currently, they put all of their effort into one deliciously pure, unoaked, Tempranillo-based wine. It is destemmed, wild yeast fermented in tank, and bottled with minimal
amounts of SO2 (around 35ppm).