Description

Olivier Riviere, Gabaxo

Doca La Rioja

20% tempranillo de Clavijo 60% garnacha de Rioja Alta de
Cárdenas. 20 % Graciano de Aldeanueva de Ebro.

Olivier Rivière established his headquarters in La Rioja after working alongside Telmo Rodríguez, an experience that profoundly shaped his understanding of Spain’s viticultural heritage.

His vineyard holdings reflect an eclectic and highly intentional selection of sites. Some parcels are located in Rioja Baja (today known as Rioja Oriental), the warmest, driest and lowest-altitude zone of the appellation, producing wines of generosity and depth. Others lie in the increasingly sought-after Najerilla valley, a cooler and more elevated area renowned for its fine, perfumed and elegant expressions of Garnacha.

Beyond Rioja, Rivière also works with vineyards in other denominations of origin. One example is El Cadastro, a cuvée primarily made from Tempranillo grown in the DO Arlanza, where higher altitudes and continental influences lend structure, freshness and precision to the wine.

Through this mosaic of terroirs, Olivier Rivière crafts wines that combine Atlantic tension, Mediterranean generosity and a distinctly Burgundian sensitivity to site.

“Gabacho” is a traditional (and somewhat cheeky) Spanish slang term used to refer to a French person. Olivier, fully aware of his origins, embraces the nickname with characteristic humour.

Though he has occasionally been described as stubborn — perhaps a trait often attributed to the French — his sharp sense of humour and healthy dose of self-irony ensure that he never takes himself too seriously. Here the wine has lot to offer complexity and elegance. Aged 24 months in barrels and then matured 3 months in Foudres