Deep underground is where the final magic of creating Rioja Wine occurs.
It took us rather by surprise, having toured many wineries and distilleries, in large above ground complexes. At the Campillo Winery it was the reverse.
On arrival we were greeted in a spacious gallery dominated by two enormous Oak doors… beyond which we had the big surprise..
The surprise was a spiral staircase into the depth of the earth…
The ambient summer temperature, across the high plains of the expansive Rioja Vine growing region, are exceedingly high. The solution for the Campillo Winery, was to transfer the maturing and storage of their wines underground, to a constant cooler environment.
Stylish but rather eerie lighting created drama…. a drama no more dramatic than in the Partners Selection and tasting Room… a room more like the villains set from a James Bond Movie. An eight sided Partners Table below one central light…. eerie indeed
Back above ground we had a great Guide, not just to explain the philosophy of Campillo, but also to guide us arround a mini, but rather luscious, Art Collection… a new twist to the Winery.
As for the raw materials… well our visit was far to early to admire a Grape crop. Views from the Gallery across the vines, revealed acre upon acre of green vines all standing lonely but absorbing the Spanish sun.
The Campillo Winery nestles below the mountain village of Laguardia*, it from here high above the vast Rioja plains that you gain a better impression of this region nestling on a high hollow plain encircled by high Alps.
( * Here is a link to the village of Laguardia :- https://wordpress.com/post/davidoakes-images.com/74966 )
A Winery that for our party, very different to what we expected…. but even in early in season the heat was high and one could imagine the heights to which it would climb across the summer, the underground logic now seemed an obvious solution.
Hot or cold and whatever your weather… always…
Please Remember ….
Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other
8th October
(C) David Oakes 2024
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Looks like they employed an artistic director to stage the whole complex. Obviously they manage to make a few bob!
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A few bob is an understatement… now you know why their wine is so expensive…still a strange but great experience.
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Wow, that is quite an extravagant looking place!
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Very much no expense spared….as I said to Peter, you now know why Rioja Wine is so expensive,,, But a great visit , or maybe better described as an experience 🙂
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