The Rioja Carlos Calls “Iconic”
About this episode
Master Sommelier Carlos Santos discusses the iconic nature of traditional Rioja wines with Angus O'Loughlin, focusing on López de Heredia and its historical significance.
What makes a wine truly iconic? In this episode of Got Somme , Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and Angus O'Loughlin open a bottle from one of the most historic producers in Spain: López de Heredia. Founded more than 150 years ago, López de Heredia has become one of the defining names of traditional Rioja, holding onto old-school winemaking methods while much of the wine world chased trends. Carlos explains why this producer is considered one of the great benchmark wineries of the world, compares it to legendary Bordeaux estates, and reveals why he’s never had a bad bottle in 26 years of tasting wine professionally. Glassware used: RIEDEL Use code: GOTSOMME at check out for 25% off! https://www.riedel.com/en-au/ The conversation dives deep into: What makes traditional Rioja different Why American oak is central to classic Rioja character The history of Rioja during the phylloxera crisis Why López de Heredia releases wines years later than most producers How modern winemaking trends changed Rioja The difference between Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva Why Carlos became genuinely offended when Angus questioned Rioja quality There’s also a fascinating breakdown of how French…
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