Description

Olivier Riviere, Ganko

Doca Rioja

80% garnacha, 20% mazuelo

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.

Ganko is a Japanese word that literally means “stubborn.” It is said to have been the affectionate nickname given to Olivier by his Japanese importer — a playful reference to the French winemaker’s determined character. The name endured and was ultimately chosen for this Grenache-dominant cuvée.

The wine is blended with 20% Mazuelo and sourced from vineyards in the now highly regarded Najerilla valley, an area increasingly celebrated for its finesse and precision. The result is a wine that combines structure and tension with the aromatic purity and elegance that define this emerging Rioja subzone.

The wine is aged 22 months in used barrel, only the best barrels are selected to compose this amazing grenache from La Rioja