La Carbonera, Familia Torres’ Rioja Alavesa project, adds another international recognition. Malpastor Crianza 2021, the second vintage of this Tempranillo from the Sonsierra, has been awarded a gold medal at The Rioja Masters, a competition organised by the renowned British publication The Drinks Business to honour the region’s finest wines, celebrating both excellence and authenticity.
In the recently published Spain Report 2025, a special edition of The Drinks Business, editor-in-chief and jury member Patrick Schmitt MW describes Malpastor as “a brilliant-value red, suing nothing but Tempran illo to deliver fleshy red berry fruit for around 15. But this is no one-dimensional wine and also featuring are complementary characters of cedar and blood orange, and mouth-coating tannins, which bring structure, drinkability and versatility”.
Malpastor is produced from Tempranillo vines averaging 25 years of age, planted in poor calcareous marl soils. The selected bush-trained plots are situated on gentle slopes and small terraces at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria, predominantly in Rioja Alavesa, which serves as a natural shield against cold northern winds. Winemaker Julio Carreter aims to capture the soil’s influence in the wine. The clay-limestone soils impart body and elegance, as well as a subtle sapidity, which harmonises with the Tempranillo’s fruit and the creaminess and finesse achieved through lees ageing during vinification.
The wine spends one month on its lees in concrete tanks, followed by three months in barrels. It then continues its maturation in American and French oak barrels, mostly second-use, for a minimum of 12 months, and is further refined with six months of bottle ageing. The result is an intense, aromatic wine with velvety tannins, showcasing the area’s unique character and the varietal’s vibrant fruit expression.
In his report, based on the tasting of all entries, Schmitt highlights the region’s versatility and its shift towards a fresher, fruit-driven style that aligns with contemporary consumer preferences. “Few wine regions have so successfully balanced a rich heritage with the need to adapt to modern tastes as Rioja,” he observes.
Malpastor perfectly embodies this innovative and versatile spirit. Julio Carreter describes Malpastor as a tribute to the pastoral roots of the Sonsierra—a blend of tradition and innovation expressed through fruit, acidity, and seamlessly integrated oak: “Malpastor is a wine that reflects the typicity of the Sonsierra, which was pastureland long before it became wine country. In a way, it’s a tribute to all we’ve learnt since then. We combine tradition and modern winemaking to create an elegant wine, distinguished by its fruit-forward character, lively acidity, and well-integrated oak,” Carreter explains.
Now in its 12th edition, The Rioja Masters aims to recognise and reward the best Rioja wines, classified by style and price. Entries are blind-tasted by a panel of international experts, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and senior buyers.
