The name behind this great wine, Marqués de Cáceres, was lent to Enrique Forner by a friend form Valencia, D. Vicente Noquera y Espinosa de Los Monteros. Today he has been succeeded by his son, Juan Noguera Merle, a worthy representative of the Marquisate which was granted in the XVII century to his ancestor Juan Ambrosio Gracía de Cáceres y Montemayor, a Captain of the Royal Armada, for war merits during the Kingdom of Neples.

Juan Noguera, Marqués de Cáceres, Grande de España, shows as much passion for his family history as he does for the wine that carry the name of a Marquisate that had no doubts whatsoever in identifying itself with the Bodega from the very beginning.

In the late sixties, Enrique Forner, founder of the Bodega, decided to return to his Spanish homeland and apply the knowledge acquired during many years of professional experience in various wine regions in France, especially Bordeaux.He chose the best location in Rioja Alta in an area renowned for its fine wines. Taking into account the smallholdings of land existing in Rioja and variety in microclimates, types of soil and orientations for the vineyards, etc.,Enrique Forner chose to acquire from the local growers grapes grown in the most privileged vineyards in the best of locations.The Bodega progressively implanted and innovative approach commenting with the vineyards and applying this to Rioja’s classing wine making and ageing processes.

Forner’s avant-garde nature is part of the family inheritance, which originated at the beginning of the last century when his family was exporting wines from the ports of Valencia to France.This loyalty towards family structured winemaking tradition combined with the close and dynamic co-operation of a competent team, both at the bodega and in the distribution network in Spain and abroad, has merited Marqués de Cáceres particularly relevant and distinguished recognition.

Bordeaux’s long tradition and experience have historically formed the pillars on which the present personality of Rioja is based. The winemaking and ageing processes are the result of t fruitful apprenticeship that has been possible thanks to earlier pioneers with vast professional experience and clear minds that predicted the many possibilities the extensive DOC Rioja has to offer.
Part of the origin of this reform dates back to the early sixties when the Forner brothers, Elisée and Enrique, reached Bordeaux. There, they acquired and restored two properties: Château Camensac, a “Gran Cru Classé”, superbly located in Saint Laurent du Médoc and Château Larose Trintaudon, a “ Cru Borgeois Supérieur”, Médoc’s most extensive property, previously owned by the Duke of Infantado.

The Forners called upon the services of Emile Paynaud, France’s most reputed oenologist. They implanted a considerable programme involving the replanting of the vineyards and restoration of the building, returning these properties to their former glory. In few years, these efforts positioned the château amongst the top producers in Bordeaux.

The Forners’ intentions, however, were not limited to the French Médoc. Their drive led them to Rioja Alta in search of an ideal microclimate, an optimum land formation with clay and limestone soil that produces some of the region’s finest wines. Relying in part on their personal experience, backed by the expert advice of their friend Emily Peynaud, the family began to develop a styles that was different from the other bodegas in the region, based on wines with both quality and character, which came through in the famous 1970 vintage, the first produced by the Bodega. Professor Peynaud was later replaced by one of his pupils, the reputed oenologist Michel Rolland, who since 1990 has been consultant to the Bodega in its aim to consolidate its own style whilst constantly striving to excel in the quality of its wines

Thanks to the Forner family’s experience in Bordeaux, since its foundation Marqués de Cáceres has complied with what is standard practice in other reputed Winemaking countries, i.e. respect for the vintages of the wines. Whilst many bodegas in Rioja only mentioned the vintages on Reserva and Gran Reserva wines to maintain a certain respect towards tradition, Marqués de Cáceres stood out by indicating the vintages in all its labels.
Likewise, whilst the local tradition implied ageing the wines in barrel for many years, resulting in aromas and flavours that were excessively marked by oak, Marqués de Cáceres chose to highlight the fruit in its wines by reducing the time spent in barrel in order to emphasise more and original potential that the “ terroir” and its first-rate vineyards had to offer.

Thanks to the Forner family’s experience in Bordeaux, since its foundation Marqués de Cáceres has complied with what is standard practice in other reputed Winemaking countries, i.e. respect for the vintages of the wines. Whilst many bodegas in Rioja only mentioned the vintages on Reserva and Gran Reserva wines to maintain a certain respect towards tradition, Marqués de Cáceres stood out by indicating the vintages in all its labels.
Likewise, whilst the local tradition implied ageing the wines in barrel for many years, resulting in aromas and flavours that were excessively marked by oak, Marqués de Cáceres chose to highlight the fruit in its wines by reducing the time spent in barrel in order to emphasise more and original potential that the “ terroir” and its first-rate vineyards had to offer.

The Bodega has replaced the traditional American oak barrels from Oregon by developing an extensive fleet of barrels of mainly French oak, which on average are newer than others used in the region. The red wines from Marqués de Cáceres stand out for their unique character. The rigorous selection of grapes combines Tempranillo
(Rioja’s main variety of red grapes) with Garnacha and Graciano that are fermented with great care to achieve elegant wines with good concentration. The wines are later aged in selected oak barrels that confer a note of distinction resulting in greater complexity, a delicate trace of vanilla and delicious tannins. The final touch is added by a long period of ageing in bottle at the Bodega’s extensive cellars.

The innovative approach also comes through in the rest of the wines that make up the range. The ROSÉ wine, a delicious combination of Tempranillo and Garnacha, and the WHITE wines made from Viura and Malvasia, are produced using different and appropriate winemaking techniques to extract maximum fruit and character from the grapes grown in superb vineyards, resulting in vibrant, fresh and fruity wines that are exceptionally aromatic.

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Visit Marqués de Cáceres at: www.marquesdecaceres.com