Marques de Murrieta

Marques de Murrieta is one of Rioja’s oldest houses – and one of the most highly regarded. It is the producer of Reserva Especial Castillo Ygay: one of the region’s very best wines.

The house was established in 1852 by Luciano Francisco Ramón de Murrieta. It was innovative from the start in being set up as a single estate, with no need to buy in fruit as was commonplace at the time.

Today, the estate has around 300 hectares under vine. The flagship wine of the estate, Castillo Ygay, comes from a single vineyard, La Plana, and is aged in American oak. The more modern, fruit forward Dalmau comes from another single vineyard. It is aged in French oak and contains around 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

There are two white wines. Castillo Ygay Blanco is based on Viura with a little Malvasia blended in and is aged in American oak. Capellania is a Gran Reserva from a high altitude vineyard where the vines date back to 1945. Ageing is in French oak.

Winemaker Maria Vargas makes the wines. Her many years at the estate give her plenty of experience to draw upon. The estate remains family owned: it has been owned by the Cebrián-Sagarriga family since 1983.

Marques de Murrieta also owns a property in Rias Baixas: Pazo Barrantes.