Some winemakers follow today's trends. Alberto Orte, however, chooses to return to the origins. With La Antigua Clásico, he pays homage to traditional Rioja as it was made over a hundred years ago: refined, elegant, and with impressive aging potential. The result is a wine that not only tells the history of Rioja but also demonstrates how timeless true quality can be.
Alberto Orte: Winemaker, Pioneer, and Guardian of Traditions
Alberto Orte is one of Spain's most respected winemakers. He is known for his passion for historic vineyards, ancient grape varieties, and forgotten wine traditions. Throughout Spain, he works with unique terroirs and old vines, often decades old.
His philosophy is simple: great wine originates in the vineyard. Therefore, he works exclusively with carefully selected plots, low yields, and sustainable viticulture. Every wine must express the character of its origin, without modern techniques dominating. This vision has earned him international acclaim among wine lovers and critics alike.
The Hidden Beauty of Rioja Alta
For La Antigua Clásico, Alberto Orte did not choose the most famous vineyards of Rioja, but rather the relatively unknown Sierra de la Demandain Rioja Alta. This mountainous area lies south of the Ebro River and is distinguished by its high altitude, cool nights, and north-facing vineyards.
Here, the grapes ripen much slower than in the lower-lying parts of Rioja. This allows them to develop exceptional freshness, refined aromas, and a natural balance. The old vines, planted between 1940 and 1955, produce only a small quantity of grapes but yield enormous concentration and complexity. Because the steep slopes cannot be worked by machine, almost all work is still done by hand.
Rioja As It Was Meant to Be
La Antigua Clásico is inspired by the classic Rioja style from the first half of the twentieth century. Where many modern Riojas emphasize powerful oak aging, Alberto Orte opts for elegance, freshness, and subtlety.
The philosophy of La Antigua Clásico is not tied to a single grape variety, but to a single style: authentic Rioja. Both the red and white wines are made from carefully selected grapes from old vineyards in Rioja Alta. Through low yields, manual harvesting, and quiet aging, a wine emerges that combines elegance, freshness, and complexity. Each wine expresses the character of the region, without excessive influence from oak or modern winemaking techniques.
Elegance Over Power
La Antigua Clásico proves that Rioja doesn't always have to be powerful and heavy. Instead, you taste refined aromas of ripe cherries, red forest fruits, subtle spices, tobacco, cedar, and a light mineral touch. The tannins are soft, the acidity provides vibrancy, and the long aging gives the wine a beautiful harmony.
It is a wine that pairs excellent with grilled lamb, stews, Iberian ham, aged Manchego, or mushroom dishes. But even without food, this Rioja shows why the classic style is still so beloved.
Why Choose La Antigua Clásico?
La Antigua Clásico is not an everyday Rioja, but a wine for lovers of authenticity and craftsmanship. Alberto Orte combines historical viticulture, old vineyards, and unprecedented patience during aging to create a Rioja that prioritizes elegance over power.
At Wijnhuis Cave, we choose La Antigua Clásico because this wine demonstrates how special traditional Rioja can be. It is a wine with character, history, and refinement – made for anyone who wants to discover why classic Spanish wines still belong among the most beautiful in the world.
View all La Antigua Clásico wines here
