bodegas bhilar
Rioja Alavesa
Located in the Basque country, Bodegas Bhilar is our boutique winery in Elvillar, Rioja Alavesa. We are a husband and wife team, David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman, dedicated to producing unique wines that reflect a sense of place through biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention in the winery. Bhilar is the name of ouer village, Elvillar, in the Basque language
Our Biodynamic
LIFESTYLE
David started this journey in 1999 with just three hectares of vines. An Agricultural Engineer, Licensed Enologist, and Vine Grower from Elvillar, he chose to blaze his own path by converting our vineyards to organic viticulture to reveal a different side of Rioja in a bottle.
Shortly after converting to Organic, David discovered Biodynamic Agriculture and we embraced its principles to restore Harmony Between Man, Earth, Vines, and the Cosmos.
In 2014, we eliminated tractors and reintroduced horses to plough the soil. Our estate was certified Biodynamic by Demeter International in 2021.
for our biodynamic EVOO
Eco-conscious Winery
In 2016, we realized our dream of building an eco-conscious winery that blends into the landscape. Our “off the grid” design utilizes solar and wind power for the entire estate, and we built the winery partially underground with concrete fermentation tanks to help control the temperature naturally.
We continually integrate improvements to our estate to foster a circular economy model, enhancing biodiversity across our lands.
“As stewards of the land, we feel it is our responsibility to heal the earth’s wounds from past harmful practices and enhance its vitality.”
