Áster

Bodegas Áster, founded in 1991 by La Rioja Alta S.A., was inspired by the desire to produce wines that rival the best from Ribera del Duero and is named after the flower that blooms annually during the harvest. Áster is located in Anguix in the province of Burgos, in the northern part of central Spain. This area, called the golden diamond by Ferran Centelles – former sommelier of El Bulli and now the Spainman of Jancis Robinson – is among the top of the appellation. The vineyards are located on a high plateau around the Duero River. The climate is harshly continental with long cold winters and short hot summers, challenging but good conditions for the production of balanced wines.

Rioja versus Ribera del Duero
The Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero – known locally as tinto fino or tinto del país – has a different structure, taste and intensity than the Tempranillo from Rioja. About 160 years ago, the grape was planted there from Rioja and has adapted to the local conditions over time. These are much more extreme in Ribera than in Rioja: “Nueve meses de invierno, y tres meses de infierno”. In contrast to the temperate Atlantic climate in Rioja, Ribera has cold, long winters (nine months of winter) and very hot summers (and three months of ‘hell’), which has caused the skin to become thicker to protect the grape. Wines from Ribera are therefore generally somewhat fleshier and more intense than wines from Rioja. The vineyards of Áster are high, around 820 metres, and there are cool nights in the summer. In fact, the difference in the summer between day and night temperatures is often 20 (!) degrees. This local climate contributes to the style of the wines; deliciously sultry and fruit-driven by the daytime heat, with always refined supporting acidity and juiciness by the cool nights.

From the mind of La Rioja Alta
Bodegas Áster was founded by La Rioja Alta after an extensive study of the best locations in the sub-regions in terms of soil and micro-climate, advised by local grape growers and experts of the region. Anguix was eventually chosen as the ideal location and in 1991 the vineyards were planted. The grapes from the first eight harvests were sold and in 2001 the first vintage (harvest 2000) of Bodegas Áster came on the market. As befits La Rioja Alta, the bodega is equipped with all modern technologies and only barrels from the very best tonneliers are used. However, a big difference with the wines from Rioja is that only French oak is used here.