Owned by Eugénie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III and the last Empress of France, Viñedos Hermanos Hernáiz is an estate with a noble and passionate heritage. Indeed, the emperor spearheaded the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. It is therefore natural to highlight that the imperial couple perfectly understood the value of these La Rioja soils. As a result, vines were planted on this exceptional terroir, resulting in the birth of Viñedos Hermanos Hernáiz wines.
Since 1996, the estate has been in the hands of two brothers named Eduardo and Victor Hernáiz. These brothers gave much more than just their name to the estate; they have nurtured it with their know-how and their family history, but also their ambition and their shared dreams. The colours, fragrances and flavours of these wines are depicted in this way: through vintages recognised for their elegance and minerality, they tell the story of a terroir and of family vineyards.
These fascinating terroirs are none other than those of La Rioja, a region of Spain famous for the quality of its wines. The Viñedos Hermanos Hernáiz vineyard covers 101 hectares grouped under the name of Finca La Emperatriz. There, the soil is formed over time through the erosion of the Sierra de la Demanda, which is made up of pebbles that prevent the soils from maintaining water reserves. The resulting water stress is ideal for the grapes during the ripening period.
In addition, the light of these white pebbles are reflected on the vines, giving the berries a beautiful concentration of colour and aromas. As such, Tempranillo, the region’s iconic grape variety, flourishes wonderfully alongside grape varieties such as Grenache.
To cultivate this vast terroir and amplify its distinctive features, the Hernáiz brothers have decided to implement plot-based viticulture. Thus, viticulture techniques unique to each plot have been put in place. This differentiation according to grape varieties, the age of the vines, microclimates or even exposure bears witness to a deep respect for the soil and allows for the obtention of wines with very distinctive characters and which are made for ageing.
In August 2023, Finca La Emperatriz was recognised by the World's Best Vineyards panel of experts as the best vineyard in Rioja.
