Sandra Bravo

Rioja can often seem a megalith, producing vast quantities of satisfactory wines, but with little that’s new and exciting on the horizon. Sandra Bravo, a young Riojana and member of the Rioja ‘n’ Roll marketing group, is proof that there are individuals making distinct and fascinating wines in the DOCa. After working in Bordeaux, Tuscany, New Zealand and California, she came back to Villabuena de Alava with plenty of experience and clear ideas. Bravo’s preference is for cool wines from cool climates. The Sierra de Toloño (which gives her project is name) is an excellent source for the style she seeks, its cold winds giving a lively freshness. Her huge old winery down by the river had the benefit of amphoras already in situ, which she used for La Dula. Worth seeking out is her white Nahi (pronounced ‘nai’), which is a co-fermentation of Viura, Malvasía, Calagraña and Rojal.