Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu

In 1996, Artadi founder and Rioja Alavesa native Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, inspired by his friendship with pioneering Central Coast vintner (and Grenache aficionado) Randall Graham of Bonny Doon, made his first winemaking foray into the neighboring historically Basque region of Navarra. There, Lacalle acquired the then-derelict town cooperative of Artazu, and began tending the Santa Cruz, the choicest plot of old bushvines of Garnacha and Garnacha Blanca in the the village. Later, further plots were acquired in the town of San Martín de Unx, from which a ‘village’ wine has been produced since 2011. The ultimate result, after more than two decades of careful winemaking and organic farming: a beautiful and fresh expression of Atlantic Garnacha, one that stands proudly alongside the increasing wealth of high-altitude, cooler-climate Garnacha being produced in Spain today.