The history of Bodega Contador began in 1995, when the winemaker and viticulturist Benjamín Romeo bought a century-old cave beneath the castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra (La Rioja). In 1996 he made the first harvest of his wine “La Cueva del Contador” there and began to buy vines for his winery project. During the following years he carried out small-scale vinifications in the cave and continued to acquire vines. In 1999 he made the first vintage of his wine “Contador”.

In 2000, after seeing the good reception of these first wines by the market and the specialized media, Benjamín decided to dedicate himself exclusively to his personal project. In 2001, Benjamín Romeo converted the garage of his parents’ house in San Vicente to make wine. In this way, he increased the winemaking capacity offered by the cave.

The new winery was inaugurated on June 21, 2008, coinciding with the summer solstice. The building is located at the foot of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, in the center of the territory occupied by the various vineyards of the property. The three-story or terraced structure of the winery reproduces the original slopes of the land and at the same time facilitates the handling of the grapes and wine by means of gravity. The terraces of the building are covered with plants that blend in with the native vegetation. The winery has exposed concrete walls, so that it becomes impregnated with dust and ends up blending in with the earth from which it was born.

The magazine of the American critic Robert Parker awarded the highest rating (100 points) to the 2004 and 2005 vintages of “Contador”, made in the garage. This recognition, unprecedented in Spain, boosted the international prestige of the brand.

Between 2004 and 2006, Benjamín Romeo developed the project for his current winery together with the architect Héctor Herrera. The work was carried out between 2006 and 2008.

A very elegant wine full of black fruit, minerals, spices, cocoa and light acids. Very well balanced with a long finish. Pure Tempranillo with aggressive pruning of up to 1.2 kg per stick that is aged in new French oak for 18 months. The name is derived from the ancient caves below San Vicente de la Sonsierra castle where the old cellar is located. It has a seductive bouquet with beautifully crisp, precise, graphite-tinged black fruit that unfolds with the passing of the moments. The palate has an enormous purity and sense of symmetry and gently grips the mouth on the long, elegant finish. If you can’t afford a real Contador, this comes very close.