#43 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 (2023 edition - 2015 vintage)
#36 Wine Spectator Top 100 (2021 edition - 2012 vintage)
#61 Wine Spectator Top 100 (2012 edition - 2004 vintage)
#91 Wine Spectator Top 100 (2011 edition - 2001 vintage)
93-Points by Wine Enthusiast & Wine Spectator.
Beronia Gran Reserva spends 28 months in French oak and at least 3 years in bottle. Dense plum, berry and spice aromas are compact and full of intensity on the nose. A full, lush and tannic palate has a stout structure, while plum, berry, oak and savory spice flavors finish with vanilla, tobacco and firm tannins. Drink this excellent gran reserva from a lauded vintage through 2035.
 
Beronia is renowned for its Rioja Alta vineyards, its gastronomic origins and its innovative barrel program. The Rioja region is subdivided into three areas, Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa; Beronia is located in Ollauri, at the heart of Rioja Alta, with the highest elevation of the three areas. The area is influenced by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean and has a mix of clay and chalky soils.
Beronia wines are defined by the region and the soils in which the vines are grown, and its name is linked to the history of the area. During the 3rd Century BC the region, known today as La Rioja Alta, was inhabited by the ‘berones’, a Celtic tribe who called the area ‘Beronia’.
The winery was founded in 1973 by a group of friends from the Basque country who wanted the best wine to accompany their gastronomic get-togethers (called Txoko in their native Basque). The winery was acquired by Gonzalez Byass in 1982, while some of the original founders still visit the winery to dine as they have done for decades.
The winery is surrounded by 20 hectares of own vineyards. The technical team at Beronia also control 870 hectares of vineyards within a 10km radius of the winery, enabling them to exercise optimum control over the quality. Beronia’s blend is led by Tempranillo, and complemented by Graciano, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Viura. Sustainable agriculture is practiced at every level with certain vineyards certified organic.
The role of oak is key to the Beronia style. The winemaker and his team are constantly studying how the wines react to different levels of toasting and types of wood. These experiments have led to Beronia’s pioneering development of mixed barrels; produced from American oak staves and French oak tops.