The History of Bodegas Muriel
THE MURIEL GROUP BOASTS 11 OWN BRANDS AND OWES MUCH OF ITS SUCCESS TO
EXPORTS: 80% OF ITS PRODUCTION IS SOLD ABROAD WHILE GAINING GROUND IN
THE DOMESTIC MARKET
WINES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THREE GENERATIONS OF THE MURÚA FAMILY SHARE A PASSION FOR VITICULTURE, AN
EXPERT TOUCH, AND A DEEP CARE FOR THE VINEYARDS THAT PRODUCE
OUTSTANDING WINES
From a small family-run winery to an international benchmark in the wine industry — that’s
the journey the Murúa family has undertaken to create Muriel Wines, a group that now brings
together 11 own brands and generates nearly €38 million in turnover.
The story begins back in 1926, when José Murúa founded the first winery in Elciego,
launching a journey that today is at its peak. In 1986, his son Julián established Bodegas
Muriel after working as a winemaker in various Rioja wineries. The arrival of the third
generation in the year 2000 marked a turning point, enabling Muriel wines to reach
international markets. The group’s evolution has been so significant that its wines are now
exported to over 50 countries, with exports representing 80% of its production. The
remaining 20% is sold in Spain, where Muriel Wines has grown strongly in recent years
thanks to the solid positioning of its brands.
Muriel Group’s growth is evident not only in its international footprint but also in the
diversification of its wines and appellations. The group includes six wineries under the
DOCa Rioja (Bodegas Muriel – Muriel and Viña Muriel – Conde de los Andes, Luis Alegre,
Viña Eguía, Marqués de Elciego, and Finca Montalvillo), one in DO Ribera del Duero
(Valdecuriel), and one in DO Rías Baixas (Pazo Cilleiro), along with the table wine winery
Real Compañía de Vinos. Also worth mentioning is the Maga Foundation.
Such a wide-ranging offering would not be possible without the exceptional vineyards
behind it. Muriel Wines owns 400 hectares of vineyards, controls 700 hectares more, and is
converting 60 hectares to organic viticulture. In Rioja alone, it works with 11 grape varieties
(4 red and 7 white).
A Collection of Stories
The wines of Bodegas Muriel are wines that tell stories. Each one has a reason to exist — a
purpose. The concept is simple: they make what they feel. That’s why the result is wines
with true personality, reflecting their terroir and history, with meticulous attention to every
detail.
One such wine that delights all the senses is Muriel Reserva Vino de Elciego. The vineyard,
located in Rioja Alavesa, is cultivated mostly in bush-trained style, on very poor calcareous
clay-loam soils. Add to this the fact that the wine matures in bottle for at least two years
before release, and you have a product of the highest quality.
Another highly regarded wine is Muriel Crianza Rioja Alavesa, known for its aromatic
freshness, concentration, and finesse on the palate — all qualities that express the very soul
of Rioja Alavesa and the full force of its terroir.
Elsewhere, the Viña Muriel wines highlight the distinct character of a specific area. Take
Viña Muriel Blanco and Viña Muriel Solariego, both from Elciego. The latter is a single-
estate wine from El Gallo, the highest part of Elciego, where the brown limestone soils and
characteristic freshness impart their full essence to the wine. Fruit, flowers, structure,
elegance, and complexity — all blended into one.
And of course, Viña Muriel Blanco, another wine from Elciego (with estate vineyards in
Garcimoracho and El Gallo), where the creaminess and elegance of Viura are beautifully
combined with the structure and aromatic expression of White Tempranillo.
These are just a few examples from the wide array of wines offered by Bodegas Muriel —
wines where quality, respect for tradition, and a spirit of innovation form the pillars of their
identity.