On Tuesday, June 16, in Girona, we experienced a day that perfectly captured the essence of Conde de los Andes: preserving the past while continuing to build the future.

At Esperit Roca, the space created by the Roca family to explore the connection between wine, gastronomy, landscape and creativity, we welcomed a distinguished group of wine professionals to share an experience conceived as a journey through time. A journey spanning more than seven decades of Rioja history, offering a unique opportunity to discover how the wines that form part of our legacy, the wines that define our present and the projects that will shape the future of the winery coexist today at Conde de los Andes.

The day began with a guided tasting of 10 wines led by Javier Murúa, Director of Muriel Wines, and Raúl Igual, Advanced Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and Brand Ambassador. Carefully selected historical references, current releases and wines that anticipate the future of the project allowed guests to explore the identity and evolution of Conde de los Andes from a unique perspective.

The experience continued with a specially designed gastronomic menu created by the Esperit Roca team, paired with a further selection of 10 wines. This second part of the event created a dialogue between wine and cuisine, offering another way to discover the personality and character of the winery.

The gathering brought together prominent figures from the worlds of wine and gastronomy, including Joan Roca, in a setting that perfectly reflected the spirit of the event: a place where respect for tradition coexists with a constant drive towards the future.

A Journey Through the Past, Present and Future

The concept behind the tasting was simple, yet deeply connected to the essence of Conde de los Andes: to demonstrate how the past, present and future can coexist within a single glass of wine.

Because speaking about Conde de los Andes means speaking about a story that spans generations. A story preserved within the historic underground cellars of Ollauri, where more than 450,000 bottles rest forty metres below ground in galleries carved since the late Middle Ages, forming one of the most important historical wine collections in the world.

The first part of the tasting was dedicated to this extraordinary legacy. Wines such as Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Tinto 1950, Tinto 1981, Blanco 1976, Blanco 1983 and Blanco 2013 showcased decades of expertise in the production of Tempranillo and Viura. Alongside them, the Historical Semi-Sweet Whites from 1964, 1994 and 2003 revealed a fascinating and distinctive chapter in the history of both the winery and Rioja itself.

During the tasting, Raúl Igual captured the significance of these wines with a reflection that resonated throughout the day:

“When we open a bottle from 1950 or 1976, we are tasting many things: a way of understanding life, an interpretation of history, a respect for nature. An old bottle is an act of generosity left to us for learning. This tasting was created with respect for that past and with the intention of continuing to move forward so that we too can leave this legacy for future generations.”

The Present of Conde de los Andes

The second part of the tasting focused on the wines that define the winery today.

Guests explored wines that represent the current identity of Conde de los Andes, including Blanco 2022, Blanco 2015, Tinto 2018 and Tinto 2015, alongside more singular projects such as Capítulo I Malvasía 2018, Capítulo II Garnacha 2018 and Capítulo III Viura 2020, as well as the Special Editions Duermevela Blanco 2017 and Duermevela Tinto 2016.

These wines reflect a philosophy rooted in respect for origin, the interpretation of unique micro-terroirs and the constant pursuit of new expressions while remaining true to the winery's heritage.

As Javier Murúa explained during the tasting:

“Today there is a greater curiosity about origin, vineyards, the people behind each bottle and the uniqueness of every territory. Consumers are looking for authenticity and meaningful experiences. I believe this trend will continue to grow, placing even greater value on identity, sustainability and the ability to tell a genuine story, such as that of Conde de los Andes.”

The Wines of the Future

The final stage of the journey was dedicated to the future, with two wines that represent the next chapter of the project: Garnacha 2024 and Malvasía 2024.

These wines showcase the direction the winery is taking and incorporate innovative approaches such as ageing in granite eggs, a technique that enhances freshness, precision and vineyard expression.

Tasting these wines alongside bottles crafted more than seventy years ago provided a powerful illustration of the philosophy that inspires Conde de los Andes today: preserving a remarkable legacy while creating the wines that will one day become part of that same history.

Twenty Wines Telling a Story

The selection presented at Esperit Roca featured twenty wines that together traced more than seven decades of Rioja winemaking history.

Historical Collection

• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Tinto 1950
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Tinto 1981
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Tinto 2005
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Blanco 1976
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Blanco 1983
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Blanco 2013
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Semi-Sweet Blanco 1964
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Semi-Sweet Blanco 1994
• Conde de los Andes Historical Collection Semi-Sweet Blanco 2003

Colección actual

• Conde de los Andes Blanco 2022
• Conde de los Andes Blanco 2015
• Conde de los Andes Tinto 2018
• Conde de los Andes Tinto 2015

Capítulos

• Conde de los Andes Capítulo I Malvasía 2018
• Conde de los Andes Capítulo II Garnacha 2018
• Conde de los Andes Capítulo III Viura 2020

Special Editions

•  Conde de los Andes Duermevela Blanco 2017
•  Conde de los Andes Duermevela Tinto 2016

Wines of the Future

• Conde de los Andes Garnacha 2024
• Conde de los Andes Malvasía 2024

Following the guided tasting, the Esperit Roca team presented a menu specially created for the occasion, paired with a selection of the winery’s wines and further reinforcing the dialogue between gastronomy, territory and wine culture that inspired the entire event.

As Javier Murúa reflected at the close of the day:

“We wanted everyone participating in this tasting to understand that Conde de los Andes is not simply a collection of wines, but a living story that stretches across generations. This tasting was an opportunity to travel through time and discover how vineyards, territory and patience can create wines capable of moving people decades after they were made.”

He added:

“Our message is that time, when combined with respect and excellence, can become one of wine’s greatest ingredients. But we also wanted to show that this project is alive, entering a new phase in which the wines created in recent years represent both the present and the future of the brand.”

The day concluded with a reflection that perfectly captures the essence of Conde de los Andes and the ambition that inspires every new vintage:

“We hope that fifty years from now, someone opening a bottle of Conde de los Andes will discover much more than a wine. We hope they will find an authentic expression of Rioja, a bottle capable of telling the story of a place, its vineyards and the people who made it possible. We hope they will find emotion, elegance and depth, but also the feeling of establishing a dialogue with the past.”

With this special gathering in Girona, Conde de los Andes shared the essence of a project with deep roots yet constantly evolving. A way of understanding wine that honours the past while building its present and future, one bottle at a time.