Spanish Wine Lover interviews Javier Murua

Some mentions in specialized media are a real privilege. This July 2019, we've been lucky to be interviewed by one of Spain's best magazines about the world of wine, Spanish Wine Lover.

Its editor, Amaya Cervera, has had a relevant and deep conversation with Javier Murua, head of the Muriel Wines group. Among the many ideas that have emerged in their talk, we'd like to highlight here four fragments that we find especially interesting.

We hope you enjoy this piece, which you can find in both Spanish and English. More information here.

IDEA 1
How do you explain Muriel to your clients?
We present us as a family group of wineries, each with its own identity, and a sound knowledge of the wine markets at both ends, from origin to destination.

IDEA 2
Are ageing and land and vineyard categories complementary?
Ageing categories (Crianza, Reserva, etc) are crucial because Rioja wines have relied on them for the last 50 years and each of them creates a perception in the market.When someone makes a wine tied to a specific origin it is because the winemaker thinks that the origin is more relevant than the ageing time, but these two issues are not incompatible. If I consider that a wine made with grapes from Elciego performs better after three years of ageing, why should not I state that it is a Reserva?
You may also produce a single-vineyard wine, a Crianza, a Reserva and a Gran Reserva from the same property. The key is the vineyard, then comes the ageing categories, but what matters most is the fact that you are building diversity. Providing you are also growing different grape varieties, you could build an additional range or single-vineyard, single-varietal wines. What is best? Whatever the consumer decides at any given time, or whatever the wine grower or the winemaker have decided that works best.

IDEA 3
According to you, what would it be the "great rioja"?
I think that great Rioja is the result of blending several plots. There are very few vineyards that show real consistence over time and many of them are tiny. We could release 300 bottles from one of the plots that is blended into our new Conde de los Andes Garnacha, but what would happen the following year? Eventually we may have to uproot the vineyard. No doubt that great vineyards make great wines but it's important to think of what will happen in 25 years' time.

IDEA 4
The new generation of producers have developed many skills, have a better knowledge of the market and speak languages. Can this improve relationships and understanding among different players in Rioja or will size and personal interests prevail?
We have to understand that new consumers are not loyal to any brand or region; they look fordiversity. Our fight is not to gain market share within Rioja but to gain share from other regions. And this should push us all to share ideas and information.

Julián Murua (right) and Javier Murua, two generations in charge of the Muriel Wines group.