Founded in 1999 by Mariano García (former winemaker of Vega Sicilia for 30 years) and Javier Zaccagnini, Bodega Aalto quickly established itself as a modern and high-end reference of the Ribera del Duero. The project aimed from the start to create a wine that rivals the greatest in the world, while staying true to the identity of Tempranillo.

Origins and Philosophy

The ambition was clear: to combine old vines, high-altitude terroirs, low yields, and extreme precision in all stages of production. Mariano García, a key figure in Spanish wine, implemented a demanding and refined vision, relying on selected plots in the most beautiful villages of the Ribera.

Vineyards and Terroirs

The estate cultivates about 130 hectares, spread between Quintanilla de Arriba, La Horra, Anguix, La Aguilera, and Baños de Valdearados. The vines are aged 40 to over 90 years, non-irrigated, rooted in clay-limestone and gravelly soils, between 750 and 950 meters of altitude. Everything is hand-harvested, with strict selection.

Vinification and Aging

The vinifications are plot-specific, with long macerations and fermentations in stainless steel or concrete. Aging is done in French and American oak barrels, mostly new, for 16 to 20 months depending on the cuvées. The wines are neither fined nor filtered.

Iconic Cuvées

• 
  
• 
  

  Aalto: blend of old vines, dense, elegant, the house's signature.

  
  
  
• 
  

  Aalto PS (Pagos Seleccionados): exceptional cuvée, powerful, intense, with great aging potential.

  
  
  
• 
  

  Aalto Blanco de Parcela: rare white from Verdejo on limestone soil, tense and saline (since 2021).

  
  
  

Style and Recognition

Aalto wines combine the solar power of Tempranillo, a great purity of fruit, a precise structure, and a perfectly mastered aging. Regularly praised by the international press, Aalto and Aalto PS are among the most sought-after wines of the appellation, rivaling Vega Sicilia, Pingus, or Emilio Moro in a more modern and accessible register.