Winery 202

Founded in 2014 by Francis and Kathleen Rooney, Bodega 202 produces small vintages from old, high-altitude vineyards, prioritizing quality over quantity.

The Rooney family's journey in Rioja Alavesa began while they were traveling the Camino de Santiago through the Ebro Valley, and the land, the wine, the history and the warmth of the people led them to found Bodega 202 there.

Currently, the winery is run by Rooney's son, Michael, and Luis Güemes, winemaker and general manager.

In 2014, after an exhaustive search for old, high-altitude vineyards, Francis and Kathleen acquired their first small vineyard. In 2015, construction began on a small winery, and a year later, the estate's vineyard was expanded to 20 hectares, spread across four heritage areas of Rioja Alavesa (Salinillas de Buradón, Kripan, Lanciego, and Elvillar).

Bodega 202 is a personal and family project. Together with his son Michael, who directly manages the business, the vision is clear: Bodega 202 is a boutique winery located next to its vineyards that employs the best technology and techniques in viticulture and winemaking, seeking quality over quantity.

Bodega 202 produces expressive wines from old, high-altitude vineyards with distinct microclimates. We have over 20 hectares across 10 plots: 4 located to the east of the valley, near Kripan and Elvillar, and 6 to the west, near Salinillas de Buradón.

High-altitude vineyards provide the ideal environment for the slow ripening of Tempranillo grapes. The low temperatures during ripening allow the process to be slower, resulting in a thicker skin that is more resistant to disease and contributes to more intense flavors.

Our oldest vineyard was planted in 1945. These old vines have a lower yield and a higher concentration, which allows us to obtain an extraordinarily powerful and aromatically complex wine, suitable for long aging, but which gives elegance and finesse to the wines.

Rioja Alavesa offers a balance of culture and nature. The landscape includes villages with long histories, mountains, monasteries, churches, and vineyards.

To the north, the Sierra de Cantabria offers a unique microclimate, a border against the cold and humid Cantabrian coast, thus creating a temperate and Mediterranean climate for the cultivation and production of wine.

Rioja Alavesa is located in the Ebro Valley. In addition to its northern border, the Sierra de Cantabria borders it to the south, along with the Sierra de la Demanda.