RIOJA ALAVESA

2020 Sierra de Toloño

Grapes Tempranillo
Colour Red
Origin Spain, Rioja
Other Practising Organic
District Rioja Alavesa
ABV 13.5%

Edgy and very modern in a good way – verging on natural! Really lively wine that may upset some preconceptions about Rioja. Fun and transparent. GV 13.5% Drinking range: 2023 - 2028 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Oct 2023)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


Ten years ago Sandra Bravo brought us the 2012 vintage of this, her first wine made back 'at home' after honing her winemaking skills around the world, and it transformed our way of thinking about Rioja. At 400 metres up you start to get wines with greater freshness and precision, fragrant and detailed, this has damson, blueberry and dark cherry fruit, with a floral push, violets and just a hint of delicate aromatic spice.L&S (Sept 2023)

Sandra Bravo's estate red is a glorious introduction to her graceful, lucid style of winemaking. A blend of grapes sourced from her high-altitude old-vine plots around Labastida, this is an effortlessly succulent style of wine, with floral-infused mulberry that is full of mountain freshness alongside gentle mocha/cacao nib tannins, and finishing with a touch of spice. Drinking range: 2024 - 2033 Rating: 93 Sarah Jane Evans MW (Apr 2024)

Sierra de Toloño

Sandra Bravo is a seriously exciting winemaker. Working with some of the highest altitude vineyards in Rioja – with plots of very old vines, she is hunting out freshness and purity. Having travelled the world and made wines in Bordeaux, Tuscany, New Zealand and California she has returned to Spain with her eyes wide open and a brave ambition to show the different expressions of Rioja. It does not all have to be blended and heavily-oaked any more. Her delicately shaped – intensely pure wines are a revelation. With a range now of different releases each profiling a particular vineyard or a particular grape variety she is making some of the most drinkable and delicious wines in the region. No surprises she was crowned the 2019 ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ by Rioja expert and wine critic Tim Atkin MW.

Sandra originally comes from Rioja, and returned there to start this project. 2012 was the first vintage. Sandra has trained in Bordeaux, Chianti, Marlborough, California, and worked in two of the larger wineries in Priorat, where she was influenced by Ricard Rofes, (now in charge of Scala Dei). She has returned home to make a Rioja which reflects the land and climate of this particular corner of Rioja Alavesa. The wine comes from old goblet trained vines grown on calcareous clay are at 650m in Labastida - one of the highest vineyards of the Rioja region. The mountains of the Sierra de Toloño protect the vines from northerly winds and create a special microclimate, cold because it is so high, but dry with the Mediterranean influence despite being so far north. All this is perfect for the grapes to ripen fully over a long time in the bright light but relatively cool temperatures - the ripeness comes slowly, retaining natural acidity. The grapes are harvested into 15kg boxes, sorted at the vine, and taken to the winery in Laguardia. Here Sandra does a very conservative vinification, with a cold soak to start with to preserve the freshness of the fruit, and then only a gentle pigeage. After the vinification the wine is aged just six months in neutral French oak barrels, and bottled without fining of filtration. From the 2013 vintage Sandra has also been working with amphorae, distancing herself even further from the oaky traditions of Rioja.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
  • For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
  • We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
  • Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
  • Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.

ORDER     COLLECT

ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS