The harvest is carried out subject to strict control in the selection of the vineyard, with the aim of Amaren only making use of the plots with excellent quality. These plots of land will have different purposes depending on its production level, type of land, situation, orientation of the same, and age of the vineyard amongst other requirements. The filed department will make a decision on the basis of continuous sampling to find the optimum time for harvesting each plot of land. Every year, and regardless of the general quality of the vintage, the grapes used by AMAREN must comply with a minimum quality standard so as to come to the situation to choose any of its wines. Therefore, every year the plots of land that have an optimum quality to be Amaren will be chosen.
AMAREN DOES NOT PREPARE VINTAGES EVERY YEAR, ONLY THOSE IN WHICH THE QUALITY OF THE VINEYARD ALLOWS FOR THIS.
The grapes are harvested by expert hands in small plastic boxes so they can be properly transported to the wine cellar.
On the other hand, the plots are very near the wine cellar, and so the transporting of the fruit to the facilities once it has been cut is done in a very short time period and so they arrive in optimum condition.
After the boxes are received at the wine cellar and unloaded on the double selection table. The first group of people manually sieve the bunches so as to separate and discard the bunches that are not perfect. Then after the stems have been removed, they are moved on to a second selection table where a selection of the grape grains will be carried out.
The varieties for the preparation of AMAREN are:
TEMPRANILLO
The most important indigenous red variety in the D.O. RIOJA. And one of the biggest varieties in the world. It produces wines for length ageing, very balanced in their alcoholic degrees, colour and acidity.
GRACIANO
An indigenous red variety with a great future in Rioja and so its surface area is increasing. It produces wines with considerable acidity and polyphonelic content, ideal for growing, whose aroma is superior in intensity to the rest of the Rioja verities. A perfect complement to the Tempranillo for ageing.
VIURA
The most extensive white variety in Rioja. It produces fruity wines, with a floral aroma and a notable degree of acidity, ideal for preparing both young white and vintage wines.
MALVASÍA
A White variety that produces wines of great oiliness and aromatic intensity.