A few years back I was visiting the centenary winery Bodegas Valdemar with the gracious and dynamic owner Ana Martinez Bujanda. The winery is a well awarded centenary winery, now with the fifth generation at the helm. They have always had a pioneering spirit and passionate dedication blanketed with curiosity. Champions of sustainability and biodiversity in the vineyards are reflective of their values and well displayed in their Insect Hotel.
Ana was excited to share with me their Finca Alto Cantabria vineyard that through a highly rigorous certification process had recently achieved the coveted seal of Viñedo Singular.(VS) for their wine from these vines. It is so difficult because not only the vineyard must be certified but also the wine from it with an excellent score. The beautiful vineyard sat on a hill not too far outside Logroño, the enchanting small capital city of Rioja. It was planted in 1975 and the cross breezes created a healthy environment for these exciting white grape varieties like Tempranillo Blanco and Viura. As we were walking the vineyard with their highly qualified viticulturist and enologist Josefina, in the limestone and carbonate soil we found a small ceramic chip. Ana and Josefina quickly commented how these are frequently found when the vineyards are tilled noting it was from the “the time of the Romans” …..
It stayed with me and made more sense as Rioja Holistic Home became a bigger bite in my daily work the following year. Painted relics from potters over 2000 years ago in the Najerllia valley indicate that grape growing and winemaking was a part of their lives. In villages such as Navarette, Tricio, Arenzana, Najera, Baños de Rio Tobia and Bezares vestiges are found. Local scholars believe that their work here travelled up the Ebro river to other territories under the Roman Empire.
Today, experts agree that the Romans can be credited with rooting the Riojan pottery culture in 218 B.C. that was sustained under Arab rule. Today, thousands of years later, remains of Roman underground kilns have been found in this enclave. It was often more laborious to dig up a kiln instead of making a new one so for this reason some have been unearthed full of pieces. Unfortunately, as in many parts of the world local municipalities and provincial governments do not have the budgets to finance the excavations.
According to scholar and writer, Carlos Muntión, he firmly believes many of these artifacts and their creators could be identified with an archaeological dig. Anyone passionate about the topic and with the resources to spearhead a dig is welcome to inquire. I can certainly point you in the right direction.
Today, the ceramic arts are mostly localized to Navarette where there are very dense clay deposits. Likewise, it is a unique clay of “very high quality”. Similar to grapes or tomatoes, not all “clay” is the same.. Our ceramics originate from the clay soils of the Navarette municipality inside a treasured studio of a grand master with a lineage of four generations of local potters. Each limited edition heritage selection is a unique work of art and handmade.
Navarette is also home to the centenary winery Bodegas Corral and also the new modern winery FYA equipped with comfortable guest rooms, gorgeous views and a noteworthy ceramic museum. Navarette is also on the official pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Known as “El Camino”. In medieval times many pilgrims who took the “walk of St. James” passed through here and today modern day pilgrims do the same. The official route has Inns for rest and healthy meals at local restaurants. It catalyzes this very cool cosmopolitan sensibility- to humbly share a morning coffee at the corner bar. An aura of humanity blankets the air here, well most everyone is walking across town on ancient cobblestone streets or walking hundreds of miles west to Galica. The movie The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emiio Estevez is a wonderful “way” to taste the potency of this experience and the modern day reasons for “Taking the Walk”.
In this light, the juxtaposition of ancient and modern creativity and imagination constitutes our ceramic collection. From the studio of a grand master we created these selections exclusively for Rioja Holistic Home™ and they are heirloom quality works of art. Ingenuity lives within them, while they also very purposefully sit as inspirational vessels for creativity in the hands of the holder. Be it for culinary crafting, gifting, connection, conversation, calm, laughter or beauty. They are an intersection of art and tableware and each limited edition piece is timeless and artistically created as an heirloom to sanctify the home. Intentionally they all will elevate what they hold.
We witnessed the super surge of creativity explode in Spain in the later 20th and early 21st century as she cuddled close with her new found freedom further 20th century shackles. For many the newfound freedom stimulated the imagination and a powerful thirst for creative expression. This is especially evident in various artistic achievements in modern Spain.
Pottery is a dynamic art form and our Ceramic Collection magnificently represents this shift. These pieces with profound provenance, honor ancient skill and traditions while exuding masterful creative modern twists.
Ana Fabiano
Founder, Rioja Holistic Home
Author, The Wine Region of Rioja