Set up in 1970 Bodegas Lan, has lived no better moments than now. Changes in ownership succeeded until in 1987 Juan Celaya a famous energy industry entrepreneur, one of the majority shareholders, took the reigns of the winery. A decisive move for distinction, quality and service plus the incorporation of star wine-makers Buenaventura Lasanta and Victor Leiva, have put Lan back on the trend of Rioja's most exclusive bodegas. A huge investment in modernizing the new premises and renovating all oak barrels has been realized and the new bodega is now fully operational. This step towards quality and consistency drove the Lan management team to fully acquire one of Galicia's most exclusive wineries of Albariño wines: Santiago Ruiz. Situated in Fuenmayor (Rioja Alta), Lan boasts a wonderful 80 hectares Estate named Finca El Cortijo, where it cultivates all of Rioja's red native varieties (tempranillo, garnacha, mazuelo and graciano) plus cabernet sauvignon. The average age of the plants is 30 years, yielding astonishing aged reds -crianzas, reservas and gran reservas- all marketed under the Lan label. But crown jewel, restricted to exceptional vintages, is its label Viña Lanciano, which will be complemented by further new special cuvées (one will bear the name of Culmen Reserva 94 and another yet to be named) by the end of year 2000. Subtle, concentrated wines that will develop slowly in bottle well into the next century for a bodega that is consistently gaining up prestige and world-wide acclaim. Visit the Bodegas Lan website.