Bodegas Ortega Ezquerro

Bodegas Ortega Ezquerro was founded in 1896 by Quintín Ortega, a local cooper and barrel maker in the village of Tudelilla. Ortega initially produced wine for family consumption and local sales in bulk before the estate transitioned into a dedicated winery. The property has remained within the family for four generations and is currently managed by Quintín's great grandson, Carmelo Ortega. In the 1990s, the family established a permanent headquarters in a historic manor house in Tudelilla, which serves as both a production facility and a center for the estate's wine tourism activities.

The winery manages approximately 16 hectares of vineyards located primarily in the Tudelilla municipality. This area is characterized by high altitude plots reaching up to 650 meters and a unique terroir known as La Pedriza. These vineyards are covered in a dense layer of large pebbles and stones similar to the galets found in Châteauneuf du Pape, which regulate soil temperature and moisture. Winemaking is led by David Bastida, who emphasizes a traditional approach using organic fertilizers, goblet pruning for old vines, and hand harvesting. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel, while aging is conducted in a combination of French and American oak barrels.

Ortega Ezquerro is best known for its focus on village wines and its efforts to preserve the identity of Tudelilla within the Rioja Oriental sub region. It was the first winery to officially register for the Vino de Municipio classification when it was introduced in 2017. The estate's signature wines include the flagship Ortega Ezquerro Crianza and the premium Don Quintín Ortega line, which utilizes grapes from the Finca El Monte vineyard. The winery has gained a reputation for its high altitude Garnacha, which historically was sold to major houses in Haro to add freshness and aromatic complexity to their blends.