2021 El Camino Rioja, Torre de Oña

Only 3,680 bottles made

This masterpiece by Torre de Oña, the 2021 El Camino captures Rioja’s charm with a modern, lifted touch. On the nose, it stands out for its intensity, featuring fine notes of redcurrant, cranberries, and red blackberries, enveloping elegant and delicate aromas of clove, liquorice, tobacco, and caramel, derived from its meticulous aging in French oak barrels. On the palate, it is smooth, with a refined texture, balanced, and silky, sweet tannins. The finish is remarkably intense, with noble aromas of red forest fruits and spices, also acquired during its aging. There’s a quiet elegance beneath the charm, the kind that invites a second glass before you’ve even finished the first.

For when: dinner’s casual but the wine still needs to impress.
Pairs with: tapas, roast chicken, or a midweek steak with friends.
If this wine were: a journey, it’d be a winding drive through Rioja at golden hour, relaxed, sunlit, and full of promise.

Torre de Oña, located in Páganos near Laguardia in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, is the boutique estate owned by La Rioja Alta S.A., one of Spain’s most esteemed wine families. Established in the late 1980s and acquired by La Rioja Alta in 1995, the winery was envisioned as a place where classic Rioja craftsmanship could meet vineyard precision and a more contemporary sensibility.

The vineyards, planted on chalky-clay soils at around 600 metres altitude, produce Tempranillo of striking purity and freshness. El Camino, meaning “The Road”, reflects the estate’s journey toward balance and modern elegance. Fermented in stainless steel and aged briefly in a mix of French and American oak, the 2021 vintage shows Torre de Oña’s hallmark style: clean, expressive fruit, subtle oak integration, and a seamless blend of tradition and modernity.