In the high, wind-swept vineyards of Rioja Alta, La Viña de la Merce is the signature wine of El Vino Pródigo, the personal project of Pedro Peciña Gil from the storied Peciña family. The Pecinas are a true Rioja grower-winemaker lineage, known for hands-in-the-vineyard work with old Tempranillo and a deep, generational sense of place. Pedro’s wine is named for his mother, and that family story is baked into the bottle: this is a wine with genuine heart, a tribute to memory built on old vines, careful farming, and a classic Rioja sensibility.

From a 35-plus-year-old vineyard at roughly 580 meters, the grapes grow on stony, clay-leaning soils that sharpen the wine’s focus and preserve its lift. Fermented in tank and aged 14 months in used oak—mostly American with a French component—La Viña de la Merce has the classic Rioja backbone without heavy oak masking the fruit. You get bright red cherry and plum, a sweep of savory spice, and a polished, food-ready finish. It’s a wine that feels both old-school and intentional: terroir-driven, restrained, and unfailingly elegant.

Why You'll Love It

• Old-vine Rioja character from a 35+-year vineyard in Rioja Alta, this wine shows the concentration, structure, and savory depth you expect from mature Tempranillo, not lighter, fruit-only effort.

• Aged 14 months in used oak, mostly American with some French, so the wood adds polish and spice without drenching the fruit in vanilla or caramel.

• Named for Pedro’s mother, this is a family tribute with real emotional weight, made by a winemaker from a true Rioja grower-winemaker lineage.

How to Serve It

• Decant for 15 minutes and serve at 60–64 °F in Burgundy stems to keep the red fruit bright and the savory oak balanced.

• Pair with rustic, savory food: roast lamb, grilled pork, herb-crusted chicken, mushroom risotto, or aged Manchego and other hard Spanish cheeses.