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WINERIES Señorío de Líbano, ROOTS AND ORIGIN
Some names seem to carry their essences in their very sound. The name Sajazarra evokes resonances of firmness and robustness, of that same vigor still boasted by the centuries-old ashlar stones of its castle, of the majesty displayed by its towers, battlements, and arrow slits. Sajazarra brings echoes of power, the power tested by its walled enclosure during the many bloody skirmishes between medieval kingdoms witnessed by its battlements.
And around Sajazarra also gravitate names full of history and stories. That of the Count of Nieva, Lord of the original fortress erected in the 13th century and ancestor of Don Diego López de Zúñiga y de Velasco, viceroy of Peru. Or that of Don Pedro Fernández de Velasco, owner of the stronghold in the 15th century, whom Henry IV named Constable of Castile. Or the more humble one of Juan Martínez, an Arnedo man so devoted to his Virgin of Vico that she freed him from the dungeons of the castle to fulfill his fervent desire to attend Saturday mass.
In our times, the name Sajazarra is linked to the Líbano family, who acquires the bastion, heavily worn by the years, and begin to restore it with care and enthusiasm. Then the castle reveals its best-kept secret, some wine presses and a press. Perhaps an act of gratitude, perhaps a sign.
From that precise moment, an exciting project begins: lands are acquired on the slope of the Montes Obarenes, an ideal enclave for its clayey-calcareous soil sheltered from the winds; vineyards are cultivated, mostly of tempranillo; grapes are harvested at the end of October, as in all this extreme area of the Rioja Alta; the first harvest is made in a strictly artisanal manner and, finally, in 1973 the first wine is obtained. After its excellent quality is confirmed, on par with the best wines of the area, it is marketed, the number of barrels is increased, the facilities are adapted, and finally, the winery is moved to new buildings located in the gardens of the castle and meticulously designed to respect the aesthetic harmony of the surroundings.
Thus, in the end, Señorío de Líbano is born and one of its brands Castillo de Sajazarra, a wine stamped by its roots and origin.
