Finca del Monasterio Estate is a unique and inspirational site for a winery

The Count of Eguía, a noblemen from Navarra, builds a castle-fortress in the 1,000 hectare Imas Estate of his property on the banks of the Ebro river, both a strategic and fertile land enclave.

The Fortress and Estate became a property of the Benedictine Order as a result of an exchange of the Castle of Monjardín with the Count of Eguía. The monks used this logistical asset to breed wool-producing sheep and to make wine and spirits, one of their famed expertises.

In a period of turmoil between the Church and the State, the Estate was confiscated from the Benedictine Order and, in 1839, General Martín Zurbano took possession as reward for his distinguished war service. In 1844, however, Zurbano wagered and lost all his lands in a historic card game and the Estate was redeemed by his administrator, Cayo Muro.

The Jiménez family bought the Estate from Cayo Muro’s widow and they remained there for three generations, bringing to Finca de Imas a period of great splendour as an arable and livestock farm, which vestiges are still visible today.

Barón de Ley was founded in 1985 as a ground-breaking project in DOCa Rioja: a vineyard-focused winery inspired by the Médoc châteaux specialised in premium Rioja wines.

Barón de Ley wines are launched in the market with the first prestigious Barón de Ley Reserva, one of our signature wines to date.

Barón de Ley achieves its first international successes, leading to an expansion of 4 million premium wines bottle production.

Gonzalo Rodríguez is recruited as Chief Winemaker, who encourages the plantation of new indigenous grape varieties.

Barón de Ley wins two International Wine & Spirits Competition (ISWC) Spanish Wine Producer of the Year trophies.

Extensive investments in purchasing vineyards and land for new plantations of indigenous grape varieties.

Expansion of our ageing capacities, including a new cellar with room for 30,000 casks, and renewal of the fermentation facilities with state-of-the-art winemaking concepts.

Pablo Tascón, one of Spain’s young and upcoming winemakers, joins Barón de Ley as Technical Director to work side-by-side with Gonzalo Rodriguez and take our wines to the next level.