Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez

Telmo Rodriguez, working with partner Pablo Eguzkiza, has spent thirty years rediscovering Spain's lost winemaking heritage. Rather than following convention, they have championed forgotten zones and near-extinct grape varieties across Cebreros, Rioja, Galicia, Málaga, Alicante and Ribera. The difference you'll taste: careful oak management and widespread use of cement fermentation to give wines the vitality and definition that sets them apart from much Spanish wine. This is winemaking that lets the vineyard speak first.

About Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez

Telmo comes from a winemaking family—his background is at the historic Remelluri estate in Rioja Alavesa—yet he has applied his modern revolution across Spain's diverse regions. In 1998, Telmo and Pablo founded Bodega Lanzaga in Rioja, where they now work with estate vineyards and selected local growers. Their winemaking philosophy rests on two practical commitments: first, they use stainless steel and cement vessels instead of relying heavily on oak, which allows the character of the fruit and terroir to remain visible in the glass. Second, they focus on vineyard quality and careful site selection.

The Corriente style represents their thinking perfectly. Inspired by old, unofficial Rioja classifications where Vino Corriente was everyday wine and Vino Selecto reserved for special occasions, they blend estate fruit with grapes from carefully chosen local growers around Lanciego and Vinaspre in Rioja Alavesa. These vineyards sit at 480–650 metres elevation on calcareous soils—mostly stony, with sandstone and marl clays—conditions that build structure and minerality into the wines. By working across Spain's regions, Telmo and Pablo have also developed impressive selections of Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from Alicante and aromatic whites from Málaga, each capturing the distinct character of its origin. Their approach treats winemaking as a means to reveal place and variety, not to mask it with heavy-handed technique.

Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez Wines in Our Collection

The range spans Spain's best regions and climbing quality tiers. The 2023 Corriente Rioja (94 points, The Wine Front) is your entry point—a well-made everyday red that shows how clean winemaking and good fruit source matter more than age or oak. Move to the 2023 LZ Rioja (93 points, James Suckling and Tim Atkin), which introduces the Bodega Lanzaga house style: savoury, defined, built for food rather than show.

The 2022 Tabuérniga Rioja (97 points, James Suckling 98, Tim Atkin 96) sits at a similar level and shows Telmo's ability to make structured, age-worthy wine without relying on obvious oak. If you want to explore beyond Rioja, the 2022 Al-Muvedre Monastrell from Alicante (92 points, Revista Adega) demonstrates their skill with Spain's forgotten varieties—a rich, intense red from Mourvèdre that few Spanish producers handle so cleanly.

Food Pairing

These wines work best with assertive, flavourful dishes. The Corriente pairs with grilled lamb, chorizo, and aged cheeses. The Las Beatas and Tabuérniga suit slow-cooked beef stews, roasted game birds, and dishes with mushrooms or truffle. The Al-Muvedre Monastrell matches spiced meats, Spanish cured ham, and richer shellfish dishes like mussels in tomato sauce. Their clean winemaking and savoury profiles mean they enhance food rather than compete with it.

Why does Telmo Rodriguez use cement instead of oak?

Cement fermentation preserves the wine's vitality and definition, allowing vineyard character and fruit to shine without oak's masking effect. Oak is managed carefully across their range rather than used as default practice.

What makes the Corriente Rioja different from other entry-level Riojas?

It blends estate and locally sourced grapes from high-elevation vineyards (480–650m) around Lanciego and Vinaspre on calcareous, stony soils. Clean winemaking and site selection—not age or oak—define its character.

Which Telmo Rodriguez wine should I buy for aging?

Las Beatas, Tabuérniga, and La Estrada (all from Bodega Lanzaga) score 94–98 points and are built for cellaring. They develop complexity over 10+ years while maintaining fresh, defined profiles.

Who makes Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez wines?

Telmo Rodriguez and partner Pablo Eguzkiza founded the company in 1998. Telmo comes from a winemaking family with roots at Remelluri in Rioja Alavesa. They operate Bodega Lanzaga in Rioja, working with estate vineyards and local growers across Spain's regions.

What style of wine does Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez make?

They make savoury, defined reds using minimal oak and cement fermentation to reveal terroir and grape character. Range includes Tempranillo-based Riojas and Monastrell from Alicante. The 2023 Corriente Rioja scored 94 points and exemplifies their clean, food-friendly approach.

How much does Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez wine cost?

Prices range between £12.40 and £226.55. Entry-level Monastrell and Corriente sit around £12–£17. Rioja selections span £18–£32, with premium bottlings from Bodega Lanzaga reaching £80–£226.