What Makes Vivaltus Special

1. High Altitude Terroir

Vivaltus is built around some of the highest and most distinctive vineyards in Ribera del Duero, mainly in Fuentenebro and La Aguilera, two of the region’s most respected villages.

The vineyards sit on poor red soils rich in limestone and rocks, forcing the vines to struggle naturally. At these altitudes, the climate is harsher, yields are lower, and the berries stay small and concentrated. The result is greater freshness, tension, elegance and depth without losing power.

This combination of altitude, limestone and rocky soils gives Vivaltus its identity: precision, energy and a strong sense of place.

2. The Art of Assemblage

Vivaltus is not made from a single vineyard expression. It is built through one of the most complex and demanding styles of winemaking: assemblage.

The winery works with 24 different plots, each vinified separately to preserve its own personality and terroir expression. Every parcel becomes an individual component inside the final wines.

From these 24 expressions, the team creates four different wines, each with its own character and balance.

This process is extremely difficult. The challenge is not simply blending wines together, but creating harmony and precision so the final wine feels complete and seamless, never like a “blend.” Only a small number of winemakers truly master this level of assemblage.

This philosophy is guided by Jean-Claude Berrouet, whose expertise brings finesse, balance and elegance to the project.

3. Fruit Over Oak

Vivaltus believes the vineyard and the fruit should always remain at the center of the wine.

Oak aging is used with restraint, only to add subtle complexity and texture without covering the purity of the fruit. Alongside French oak, the winery also works with terracotta amphorae and concrete tanks, continuing the philosophy of traditional winemaking focused on freshness and expression rather than heavy extraction or excessive wood influence.

The result is wines with precision, energy and transparency of terroir.

4. A Family Legacy That Changed Spanish Wine

Behind Vivaltus is the new generation of the Martínez family, continuing the work started by their father, Ramón Martínez.

Ramón Martínez arrived in Ribera del Duero from Rioja more than 50 years ago after being invited by the Bodegas Yllera family. At that time, Yllera were pioneers and leaders in Rueda white wines, but had little experience making red wines.

Coming from Rioja, Ramón brought knowledge and vision at a moment when almost nobody believed great red wines could be made outside Rioja. What began as an ambitious challenge became historic: together they created one of the first modern red wines of the region and helped shape the future of Ribera del Duero and modern Spanish winemaking.

Today, Vivaltus represents the continuation of that legacy through a more terroir driven, elegant and contemporary vision of Ribera del Duero.