The Early History of Bordeaux and Rioja

There’s a commonly-held belief that starting in the mid- to late-nineteenth century, Bordeaux had a “revolutionary” impact on Rioja wine production. In particular, in the 1860s, the winemaker of Bordeaux’s pioneering Chateau Lanessan, owned by the DelBos family, travelled to Rioja and eventually worked for the Marqués de Riscal. There’s even a scholarly article entitled “Jean Pineau, la revolución del vino en Rioja Alavesa.” Pineau and Riscal are portrayed as utterly transforming Rioja wine production, bringing it to a modern style after centuries of producing inferior bulk wine. Part of […]