Bodegas Ostatu enjoys a prime position in Samaniego in the heart of the famous Alavesa Basque region. María Asun Sáenz de Samaniego and her family run the 34 hectares estate (divided into 50 distinct plots). For generations, members of the Sáenz de Samaniego family have been dedicated to viticulture. In fact, there is evidence of a relationship with the vineyards since the 16th century, when their forebears worked in a winery located in the neighbourhood of Matarredo, with underground cellars carved into the rock. In the late 1960s, combining a strong commitment to work, an emerging vision of the future and perseverance, the Sáenz de Samaniego family decided to market their own wines. They established a new winery, the one that exists today, attached to a mansion built in the 18th century on the road from Laguardia to Vitoria.

Soil, microclimate and orientation are some of the most defining geographic conditions here, where over 95% of the vines grow on an ochre-coloured chalky clay soil, on uneven relief, with numerous gullies and small hills. It confers on them a delicacy of aroma and roundness of flavour. The height above sea level and the latitude of this area are both ideal for fine fruit development. The microclimate of this particular district is complemented by the winds and the orientation of the vineyards, which are sheltered from the cold winds to the north by the ‘Sierra de Cantabria’ mountain range and planted on south-facing slopes. This special microclimat gives the optimum ripeness. Sustainable viticulture is the working philosophy here. Winemaker Iñigo Sáenz de Samaniego use a mix of modern methods and French oak barrels to exploit the full potential of their superb vineyards, many planted with vines over 50 years of age. The result is a collection of precise wines, with a great sense of terroir and well-preserved fruit.