Tasting Notes
Another example of the new wave out of Rioja that eschews the oak and the extraction to produce a more vibrant and fresh style of wine from the full range of allowed varieties... We are talking Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Jaen, Graciano, Garnacha Gris and even some Monastrell! They are all co-fermented in concrete before spending 10 months in old 500Lt barrels to help out the bright red and purple fruited flavours. An old school approach with a new school feel. - Pete L
Tentenublo is the personal project of Rioja-born winemaker Roberto Oliván, founded in 2011 in the village of Viñaspre, on the eastern edge of Rioja Alavesa. The name comes from an old Spanish word describing the ringing of church bells to ward off storms, a nod to tradition and the region’s agricultural roots.
Roberto works a patchwork of tiny, high-altitude vineyards, many planted on poor, rocky soils of limestone and sandstone at over 600 metres above sea level. Old bush vines of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Viura dominate, often interplanted in the historic mixed-vineyard style of Rioja. Farming is carried out organically, with an emphasis on biodiversity and low intervention to preserve the individuality of each parcel.
In the cellar, Roberto favours spontaneous fermentations, gentle extraction, and maturation in a mix of concrete, amphora and neutral oak, allowing the wines to speak of their sites rather than winemaking artifice. The results are vivid, textural wines that combine Rioja’s depth with freshness, energy and a striking sense of place.
Tentenublo has become one of the most exciting names in modern Rioja, producing wines that are authentic, characterful and unafraid to challenge convention while remaining rooted in tradition.
| Product Type | Wine Red Tempranillo & Friends |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic |