In Bodegas Murua’s commitment to special environmental care, actively participating in habitat maintenance and strengthening the ecosystem and biodiversity, this winery from Rioja Alavesa has opened the doors on three of its estates to millions of bees by placing 75 hives, with the help of Ander Abaitua, a young professional beekeeper from the area.
The locations of these plots are Leza, where 30 hives have been placed at the San Cristóbal estate, and Laguardia, specifically at the Morales estate, also with 30 hives, and at La Cruceta, the estate where this winery practices regenerative viticulture, 15 hives have been installed. Some hives will remain there year-round, while the others will need to be moved to the mountains in mid-May to protect them from high temperatures, as regenerative agriculture benefits the bees.
Bees play a fundamental role in the reproduction of vine flowers, as they are the queens of pollination and are therefore essential both for the natural ecosystem and for grape cultivation, helping to maintain vineyard biodiversity. Additionally, unlike wasps, bees do not damage the vines, and their activity is beneficial for the vineyard, potentially even increasing grape production. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 80 percent of all flowering plant species depend on pollination by animals, mostly insects, and they account for 35 percent of global agricultural production.
This winery in the DOCa. Rioja, belonging to the high-end wine group Masaveu Bodegas, aims to contribute, through this new artisanal activity, to the ecosystem, the environment, the natural heritage, and the local economy, as it considers that it not only provides a natural health network for the vineyard but also enriches, unifies, and nourishes the natural “lungs” of the territory.
Murua will also make available to its customers, in the winery’s physical shop, jars of pure honey “Aroma de Abeja” from Rioja Alavesa, handcrafted by this beekeeper.
About Masaveu Wineries
The Masaveu family began investing in the winemaking sector in 1974, when they acquired Bodegas Murua, but the family’s vineyard plantings date back to the mid-19th century, specifically in Castellar del Vallés, where the family originates and where Federico Masaveu Rivell started the steps that a century later would be continued by his descendants.
Since then, Masaveu Wineries has grown steadily with a strong commitment to quality in the production of its wines across different DOs, embracing an ecological philosophy and utmost respect for the land, where it owns its own vineyards, allowing them to convey the unique personality of each terroir in every bottle. In this way, all of Masaveu Wineries’ projects across different parts and regions of the country come together under a common denominator: Murua (DOCa. Rioja), Fillaboa (DO. Rías Baixas), Leda (Wine of Tierra de Castilla y León) and Valverán (Asturias).
