In 1970, Forner’s father and uncle purchased a number of humble vineyards—less than one hectare each—in Rioja Alta. Up until then, Enrique Forner had been living in France’s Rhône Valley, producing wine in Bordeaux; this is where he recognized that the region’s terroir presented similar characteristics to northern Spain, his native country. He was inspired to move back and introduce the region to Bordeaux’s estate bottling techniques, and this is when he established Marqués de Cáceres. Their first wine in 1974, the label became somewhat of an icon as Mr. Forner revolutionized the winemaking process throughout the Rioja region.
