IRAUN

“Oxer is a very exciting new project using old vine parcels from the Rioja Alavesa. This stunning white comes from a 96-year-old, one-hectare parcel in Elvillar and is a blend of Viura with 3% Malvasia, aged is used French oak. It’s a modern/traditional cross over style, with citrus peel, aniseed and nutmeg notes and good grip and depth.”.

TIM ATKIN, MW

Young Soul

Oxer always wanted to make wines in La Rioja Alavesa and in 2005 he moves to Laguardia convinced of the uniqueness of the area. In  2009 he makes his first wine with grapes purchased from the growers in the area (grapes from old vineyards). The experiment succeeds. He falls in love with this  region and its stunning vineyards. Oxer then decides this is the place where he wants to settle and further express the art of winemaking. Relatively new to the region, but already enjoying national and international recognition.

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Old Vineyards 

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Convinced of their singularity, Oxer invests each cent earned in buying old plots. Artillero is one of these beauties: 98 years old, located in Elvillar  (La Rioja Alavesa) at 600 metres altitude and creator of the white Iraun and red Artillero. This is only just the beginning. Oxer is in continuous search for old jewels. A visionary man with a plan: achieving immortality of his wines.  

Eye for quality and detail

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The vineyards in La Rioja Alavesa are worked organically following the principle of regenerative agriculture. Man and mule work the land with great care and respect for the old vines. Different kinds of European oak are being selected for each and every single wine, and barrels and foudres are tailor-made accordingly (Francis and Stockinger). Even naming and labelling are carried out with minute detail for meaning and symbolism, expressing oxer´s universe.

Elegance, freshness and refinement

All the meticulous work in vineyard and winery culminates in extremely fresh and elegant wines. These are the characteristics Oxer strives for in all his wines. 
Old vines, only natural acidity by picking early, little extraction, spontaneous fermentation and fermentation and ageing in a mix of vessels (stainless steel tanks, concrete egg, amphorae, foudres and oak barrels different sizes) all contribute to achieving this fine wine profile.

​“Wines to drink and to store.  All human wisdom for the soft scent of wine”  OMAR KHAYYAM

Vilken Stjärna! Kunskapen och passionen att hitta små växtplatser med väldigt gamla vinstockar i Rioja är väldigt svårt men något Oxer verkligen lyckats med!

Inte bara att han gör annorlunda Rioja viner än den lite mer klassiska stilen. Utan har även en fantastisk personlighet som verkligen utstrålar sig i vinerna. Nytänkande med etiketterna, nytänkande med druvsorterna han väljer samt dess stil och metod. Och detta är bara början på hans resa!

DOCa Rioja

Varieties: 80% Viura, 9% Calagraño, 4% Garnacha Blanca, 3% Maturana Blanca and 3% Malvasia Riojana.

Production: 1.000 bottles

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IRAUN sprang from the idea to create an oak aged Viura defined by its freshness and subtleness. An aged white Rioja that is not overpowered by oak and creaminess, but very well expresses its terroir.

Vineyards

A 96-year old vineyard of 1 ha located in Elvillar (Rioja Alavesa) at 600 metres altitude with calcareous clay composition. A mixed plot of Tempranillo, Viura and Garnacha Blanca that only yields 3000 kg per hectare.

Winemaking

The alcoholic fermentation starts in stainless tanks, using only indigenous yeast, and finishes in 500 litre new and used French oak barrels. The wine ages for another 12 months in French oak.

Character

Iraun shows concentrated aroma´s of ripe yellow apple, lime and oaky vanilla. At the same time it´s very fresh with herbal notes of fennel and bay leave. It finishes with an elegant minerality.

What's in a name

Iraun is Oxer´s tribute to his people and language (Euskera). The word means ´to endure´. Despite all obstacles and challenges, the Basque people persevered and they kept the oldest language in Europe...