What makes a wine truly iconic?

In this episode of Got Somme, Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and Angus O'Loughlin open a bottle from one of the most historic producers in Spain: López de Heredia.

Founded more than 150 years ago, López de Heredia has become one of the defining names of traditional Rioja, holding onto old-school winemaking methods while much of the wine world chased trends. Carlos explains why this producer is considered one of the great benchmark wineries of the world, compares it to legendary Bordeaux estates, and reveals why he’s never had a bad bottle in 26 years of tasting wine professionally.

Glassware used: RIEDEL

Use code: GOTSOMME at check out for 25% off!

https://www.riedel.com/en-au/

The conversation dives deep into:

• What makes traditional Rioja different
• Why American oak is central to classic Rioja character
• The history of Rioja during the phylloxera crisis
• Why López de Heredia releases wines years later than most producers
• How modern winemaking trends changed Rioja
• The difference between Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva
• Why Carlos became genuinely offended when Angus questioned Rioja quality

There’s also a fascinating breakdown of how French winemakers helped shape Rioja during the 1800s, why counterfeiting became a huge issue for historic Spanish producers, and what wine lovers should actually look for when identifying quality Rioja.

If you’ve ever wondered why some wines become timeless while others chase trends, this episode is for you.

00:00 – “You can’t just call a wine iconic”

00:32 – Why López de Heredia matters

02:29 – The blind Rioja tasting that inspired this episode

03:39 – What traditional Rioja should taste like

06:40 – How phylloxera changed Spanish wine forever

08:24 – Why this producer never chased trends

10:27 – Angus questions Rioja pricing and quality

12:41 – Carlos explains what separates great Rioja

14:00 – Why López de Heredia releases wines so late

16:11 – Final thoughts on one of Rioja’s great producers