B&W Creations, Baigorri Winery

Your wines come from a unique landscape in the Rioja Alavesa. How important are the vineyard itself and the territory when it comes to defining each wine?

The importance of the vineyard and the territory is key, it is the fundamental factor in everything we do at Bodegas Baigorri. All the efforts of every member of our team are focused on ensuring that everything we do has personality and speaks of its origin, as this is one of the most important values for us.

Gravity plays an important role in your winemaking process, how does it affect the properties of the wine?

Gravity allows us to make wines in a differentiating way and with the least possible intervention, caring for and preserving the integrity of the grapes and the wine at all times and avoiding mechanical movements. Although it is a novelty in winemaking, it is actually a very traditional method, as gravity winemaking was already used in this area many years ago. The aim is to return to more natural and less aggressive methods in order to preserve the quality of the grapes at all times.

The winery is renowned for its unique architecture, which integrates and coexists with the landscape. How does this immersion affect the visitor experience?

The architecture is indeed a very attractive point, but the fact that it has a totally practical sense is a differentiating point. This winery was designed by Iñaki Aspiazu for the elaboration of wine by gravity in all its phases, being a pioneer in this aspect. Moreover, its facilities are unique and can be visited at any time of the year, with the grape harvest being one of the busiest times of the year.

Becoming a B Corp goes beyond certification: it implies a commitment to social and environmental impact and to the way we work. What does it mean to you to have achieved this recognition?

In reality, it means reaffirming a way of being and doing things that has been part of Bodegas Baigorri's DNA since the beginning of the project, although it is nowadays when we as a society are more aware that we must work in a conscious and responsible way. As we were talking about architecture, the building is designed in such a way that it blends in with the landscape and allows the activity to be carried out in a sustainable way, points that were not considered at that time as they are now. Likewise, the winery has always been committed to creating value and a future for the area.

Your restaurant's wine pairings are a way of showing the connection between wine and cuisine. How do you choose which wine to pair with which dish?

In fact, the wine pairing options are already defined and there are two: classic and premium. What we are looking for is for the tasting menu to be complemented with these wines and to represent the territory in which we are located with local and seasonal products.

In the case of this autumn, what dish would accompany this season's wine proposal?

The autumn or harvest tasting menu is accompanied by seasonal products, such as mushrooms or pumpkin, and we want it to represent this season and the flavours that come with it. Of course, each dish or proposal would fit with a wine, but in autumn and after the summer, we opt for red wines with a well-integrated ageing process that respects the fruit, as well as lesser-known local varieties, such as our Baigorri Belus or Baigorri Garnacha.

Beyond the vineyard and the barrel room, where do you find inspiration? Are there cultural, artistic or personal influences that are reflected in the way you make or present your wines?

Of course, the whole environment inspires and influences us. Both on a local or personal level, with colleagues or winemakers, and on a broader level including culture, traditions or innovations or even art. In the end, wine is a product that has soul and personality, so it represents a way of being and seeing what surrounds us. Each vintage is unique, just as we are unique, as we change over the years, and therefore what we make represents those changes or evolutions.