Contador Benjamin Romeo
Many wineries in the Rioja region have family wine cellars that have been passed down through generations. Benjamin Romeo began in a cave. In 1995, he acquired a centuries-old cave carved into the rock beneath San Vicente de la Sonsierra Castle in Rioja Alta and began making wine there, gradually purchasing vineyards one by one. He subsequently used a converted garage at his parents' home as a base of operations, and later built a dedicated winery at the edge of the village.
Contador Benjamin Romeo has established itself as one of the most respected wineries in the Rioja region, thanks to its modern approach amid the region's stylistic polarization: They fermented grapes harvested at very low yields from individual vineyards separately and aged them in new French oak barrels instead of the American oak barrels for which Rioja had built its reputation.
The history
1995 marked the beginning. Benjamin Romeo, a winemaker and grape grower, purchased an old cave excavated beneath San Vicente de la Sonsierra Castle.
In 1996, the first vintage of La Cueva del Contador was released, and from that point on, the purchase of vineyards began in earnest. Grapes were vinified in small batches. In 1999, the first Contador was released.
These early wines were well-received by the market and the specialized press, and in 2000, Romeo gave up all other work to devote himself entirely to this project. A year later, to process more grapes than the cave could accommodate, he completely cleared out the garage at his parents' home in San Vicente and equipped it with new machinery. The wines produced in this garage garnered significant international attention and served as a catalyst for spreading the brand's reputation far beyond Spain.
From 2004 to 2006, Romeo collaborated with architect Hector Herrera to design a full-scale winery. Construction took place from 2006 to 2008, and the winery opened on June 21, 2008, coinciding with the summer solstice. The winery is situated at the foot of the village, in the heart of the vineyards.
The name 'Contador' comes from an interesting story. In the early years the wines were transported from within the cave to outside for transport. As the wines had to be taxed, a 'Contador' was placed at the entrance of the cave to count the bottles and determine how much had to be paid by the winery.
The vineyards
Contador Benjamin Romeo's vineyards are not concentrated in a single plot but are scattered throughout the San Vicente de la Sonsierra area; this is precisely why the winery was built at the center of the region where these vineyards are located.
Each vineyard is cultivated and managed individually. Yields are kept very low, and the grapes harvested from each vineyard are vinified separately before any decisions regarding blending are made. This approach forms the foundation for the entire product line, ranging from entry-level wines to single-vineyard bottlings.
San Vicente de la Sonsierra is situated on the slopes of Rioja Alta. The winery's terraced design was shaped to follow the natural slope of the terrain on which the property is situated.
The grape varieties
As across Rioja Alta, Tempranillo forms the backbone of this lineup, and some bottled wines are made exclusively from this variety. Garnacha occupies a unique position within this lineup, which extends to white wines as well.
- Tempranillo, flagship red variety
- Garnacha, red wine
- Viura
- Malvasia
- Garnacha Blanca for white wine
The alcohol content generally ranges from 14% to 15%, which provides insight into the degree of fruit ripeness and the timing of the harvest.
New French oak, short ageing, gravity
Romeo's winemaking method is modern by Rioja standards. The grapes from each vineyard are fermented separately. Aging takes place in new French oak barrels for a relatively short period of 18 to 20 months; traditional wineries in the region, however, prefer to use American oak barrels and age their wines in oak for a longer period.
The architectural structure itself plays a role in the winemaking process. The three-story building is designed in a terraced configuration that mirrors the slope of the site, allowing the fruit and wine to flow downward by gravity rather than being transported by pumps.
Plants selected to harmonize with the surrounding vegetation cover the terraces, and the walls are intentionally left as exposed concrete; as dust accumulates, the concrete gradually takes on the color of the soil from which it was extracted.
Recently, the winery installed a 74.62 kW solar power system for its own consumption; this project has reduced its dependence on external energy sources by about half.
The range, cave to Coleccion
Contador is the wine that made this label famous.
La Cueva del Contador is a Tempranillo-based red wine named after the cave where it all began.
Flanking these are single-vineyard wines. These include La Vina de Andres and the numbered Coleccion series: No. 1 La Vina de Andres Romeo, No. 2 Carmen Hilera, No. 3 El Chozo Del Bombon, and No. 4 Garnacha de la Dehesa. Each is produced from a specific vineyard, which is precisely why they are distinguished separately.
Predicador Blanco is the white wine made from the white grape varieties used in Rioja. There is also Benjamin Romeo Alma.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Contador Benjamin Romeo based?
In San Vicente de la Sonsierra, in the Rioja Alta sub-region of Spain. The winery sits at the foot of the village, surrounded by the estate's vineyards.
Who runs the bodega?
Benjamin Romeo, who is both the owner and the winemaker. He founded the project himself in the 1990s and has run it since.
Is this traditional or modern Rioja?
Modern, by the region's usual shorthand. Single-plot fermentations, very low yields and new French oak for 18 to 20 months put it firmly on that side of the line, alongside the other names Rioja lists group as modern.
Why is the winery called Contador?
The name 'Contador' comes from an interesting story. In the early years the wines were transported from within the cave to outside for transport. As the wines had to be taxed, a 'Contador' was placed at the entrance of the cave to count the bottles and determine how much had to be paid by the winery.
