Bodegas Ostatu is a family winery located in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa region in the town of Samaniego.

The Saenz de Samaniego family has been in the area for many generations. The vineyards, which are protected by the Sierra Cantabria range, are composed of chalk and clay. The average age of the vines is 50 years old. Until recently all the wine was made in the carbonic maceration process with the intent being wines for early consumption.

This philosophy recently changed when Hubert de Bouard de Laforest of Chateau Angelus saw the vineyard sites of the family and expressed an interest in collaborating on a special project. He realized that the age of the vines, combined with the unique orientation of the vineyards, could produce drastically different wines that could compete on the world stage. By changing over from carbonic maceration to traditional fermentation and by reducing yields in the vineyards the wines made a drastic change in style. Learn more.