Introduction: Bodegas y Viñedos Ilurce is a fourth-generation family estate in Alfaro, the historical capital of Rioja Baja, operated by the Escudero family since 1940. Their partnership with renowned US importer Jorge Ordóñez produced one of Rioja's most distinctive and pioneering projects — Rio Madre, one of the first 100% Graciano wines available at an accessible price point. Historically confined to a supporting role in Rioja blends, accounting for just 1.5% of regional plantings, Graciano has long been prized by blenders for adding perfume, acidity, and structure. Ilurce recognized its standalone potential from their estate vineyards and Rio Madre has since become a benchmark for the variety.

Terroir: Ilurce's 45 hectares of estate vineyards are planted in the foothills of the Sierra de Yerga at 400–600 meters elevation. The soils are alluvial and rocky — deposited by the Ebro River and reinforced by runoff from the mountains — with a sandy-clayey texture and a notably high proportion of iron, and unusually low calcium compared to northwestern Rioja. The Mediterranean climate with cold nights and warm summers creates ideal conditions for Graciano, a late-ripening variety that struggles to fully mature in the cooler northern sub-zones but thrives here in Rioja Baja.

Appearance: Deep, vivid ruby with a purple-violet rim — dense and youthful.

Nose: Perfumed and aromatic — violet, mulberry, dark cherry, and blackberry lead, alongside bitter chocolate, fresh herbs, clove, and a hint of dark olive. Graciano's natural aromatic intensity and lifted floral character are immediately evident and distinctive from a typical Tempranillo-based Rioja.

Palate: Medium- to full-bodied with round, supple tannins and Graciano's signature lively, mouthwatering acidity — the variety's defining structural quality and the reason it has been so prized as a blending component for longevity. Flavors of dark cherry, plum, licorice, and spice move across a fresh, fruit-driven palate that the winery describes as showing "the most jovial, tasty and fruity side of the variety, but with the contained power that characterises the Graciano." Hand-harvested clusters are sorted and destemmed, then fermented in concrete and stainless steel at controlled temperatures with subsequent malolactic fermentation preserving the fruit's vibrancy.

Finish: Long and spiced, with a pleasantly bitter dark fruit and herb note on the close — a hallmark of the Graciano variety — and a refreshing acidity that carries the finish cleanly.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Grilled lamb chops with herbs, slow-roasted pork with paprika and garlic, or hearty Spanish-style braised beef.
🥦 Vegetarian: Roasted red pepper and eggplant with romesco, a rustic bean stew with smoked paprika, or wild mushroom croquetas.
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Manchego, Idiazábal, jamón ibérico, marinated olives, and dark chocolate.

Overall Impression: A genuinely rare and exciting wine — 100% Graciano at an everyday price is virtually unique in Rioja, and Rio Madre has been the standard-bearer for this rare varietal since its debut. Dark, aromatic, vibrant, and built with the variety's natural acidity for short-to-medium term cellaring. Drink now through 2028. Serve at 62–65°F.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 14.5% (verify on bottle)
Farming Practices: Traditional dry farming; estate vineyards; no chemically synthesized pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers; sustainable viticulture
Producer Name:Bodegas y Viñedos Ilurce / Escudero family (in partnership with Jorge Ordóñez Selections)
Old World / New World:Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: DOCa Rioja (Rioja Baja / Rioja Oriental — Alfaro, Sierra de Yerga foothills)
Grape Varietals: Graciano 100%
Vintage: 2022
Wine Style: Dry Red — Medium- to full-bodied, with the aromatic intensity, vivid color, and high natural acidity that make Graciano such a compelling standalone variety. More perfumed and structurally fresh than a Tempranillo-based Rioja, with a lifted floral and dark fruit character and a naturally long-lived structure.
Winemaking Techniques: Hand harvest; rigorous double sorting; destemmed but not crushed; fermentation in concrete vats and stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature (20–25°C); subsequent malolactic fermentation; gentle pressing in horizontal pneumatic press; aged in a combination of stainless steel, concrete, and neutral French oak
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork