Winemaking

La Riojana owes so much to the pioneering Italian migrants who first moved, in the 1940s, to the Famatina Valley in the remote northwest region of La Rioja province.

The Famatina Valley is nothing short of a viticultural paradise, ideal for growing grapes capable of thriving in what can be harsh conditions with summer temperatures topping 45°C and rainfall of only 180mm a year.

All the grapes grown by our members, across some 4,125 hectares of vineyards, are then sent to eight different bodegas, with the majority going to our main winery in Chilecito in the Famatina Valley.

The number of members and growers in the La Riojana co-operative means we are able to make wine from one of the widest selection of grapes available in Argentina.

La Riojana is Argentina's largest producer of Torrontés, the country's signature white grape variety.  

La Riojana’s team of seven winemakers is led by Dr Rodolfo Griguol, who has not only worked with the winery since 1984, but grew up on the co-operative as his father was one of the original members, becoming general manager in 1940.