Bodega Gontés, a different visit in Labastida.

Enjoy the knowledge of Jesús González Teso and his personal and characteristic point of view at Bodega Gontés.

Sometimes you, our readers, ask us about different wineries, wineries without a commercial profile, wineries like those of yesteryear, and that is why today we are talking about Bodega González Teso, a small family winery that nobody is indifferent to. The brand Gontés, is the union of the surnames of the family that produces it, González Teso, a brand whose wines we had the pleasure of enjoying during Ardoaraba 2015.

In the upper part of the town of Labastida, in the historic center of the municipality, in the old Jewish quarter, we find a small house that hides a great treasure under its floor, a small network of tunnels that leads to 8 cellars (2 from the fourteenth century and the rest from the thirteenth century) in which Gontés wines take shape. Do you want to know our opinion about the Gontés Winery? It is not to be missed.

Particular, unique and fun are 3 adjectives that perfectly sum up our visit to the Gontés Winery, González Teso. Hold on, let’s get started.

Visit: The visit begins at the entrance of the winery, a brief summary of its history anticipates what awaits us. The first contact takes place between stainless steel barrels, a first tasting that makes us warm up, the chosen one, a young wine. We walk in the company of Jesus and his characteristic vision of the appellation of origin and the direction of the wine sector, the subway tunnels until we reach the end, an entertaining and educational talk that made the visit more enjoyable. At the end of the tour, back at the entrance of the Gontés winery, we had the opportunity to enjoy the jewel of the winery, the Gontés Expresión wine, a wine that we used to wash down the great hamaiketako (in Basque, appetizer at 11 o’clock) that they had prepared for us, quality products in quantity.

Jesus Gonzalez Teso: Jesus, winemaker by profession, is a man with a particular point of view, that from the proximity gives us to know his winery, vineyards and products. Do not expect a conventional speaker, Jesus treats his visitors as if they were just another neighbor, a characteristic that we loved, from the people for the people. “May you lack nothing” repeated Jesus, 100% devoted to his visitors while we enjoyed a good hamaiketako and a better wine.

Underground: Practically all the Rioja Alavesa is full of subway tunnels, facilities as typical of the ground we walk on as the wines we taste. From TurismoVasco.com we consider essential to know these facilities designed for the defense of our villages and that nowadays are used for the elaboration of wine and oil among many other uses. It is very common to see them in visits to wineries and oil productions, 2 visits that we recommend.

History: Although the winery González Teso, Gontés, has its origin in 1893, it was not until 2003 when Jesus decided to venture into the professionalization of what had been a tradition in his family. Jesus, great-grandson of Wenceslao González, cooper of the great wineries of Haro, has followed the link that his family has with winemaking. Since 1905, his family has been making rioja alavesa wines from their own vines.

Price: 9 €, fun and educational visit. 12 €, fun and educational visit accompanied by a good hamaiketako. A price according to the services offered, a price with a good value for money.

Different, particular: The Gontés winery is presented without great fanfare, simple, a family winery. A type of winery almost forgotten by the visitor, who, called by the ostentations of the big multinationals, leaves aside the small wineries of the Rioja Alavesa.

Location: Labastida, Rioja Alavesa. The location of the winery, forces us to walk through the streets of the historic center of Labastida until we reach 34 Elm Street, a perfect excuse to get to know the ins and outs of this small and cozy town built around the castle hill.

Its two Christian temples, starring the stamp of this municipality, ancient land of the kingdom of Navarre. The plots of this winery are located between 400 and 700 meters, bounded by the Sierra Cantabria to the north and the Ebro River to the south, two very important elements in the climate of the Rioja Alavesa.

Products: Jesus shows us the variety of wines produced in the winery Gontés, products for all tastes.

TurismoVasco Tiketa: For the quality of its visit and its wines, the Gontés winery has received our exclusive TurismoVasco tiketa accreditation. An accreditation that shows the importance of getting to know the traditional and small family wineries of Rioja Alava.

We look forward to reading your opinions about the González Teso winery, Gontés, on social networks or here, in this article, through your comments.