Over the last few days at Tonelería Murúa we have had the pleasure of welcoming groups of sommelier and Business Administration and Management students.

The sommeliers were accompanied by José Ramón Jiménez Berger, The Wine Educator, while the meeting with the ADE students from the University of La Rioja was organised by the Asociación Riojana de Empresa Familiar (AREF), of which we are recently a member.

Both visits were an opportunity to show the work we do at Murúa, from the management that has allowed us to grow since 1898 to the craftsmanship behind each barrel, its value and its importance in wine ageing.

The visit of the sommelier students

On arrival the group listened to a presentation about the Cooperage by our manager, Elena Ceca. She talked about each of the stages involved in the process of making a barrel, focusing mainly on the oak, its origin and varieties. Thus, they were able to know and understand the journey that takes place from the time the wood leaves the forest until the final piece is delivered to the winery in question.

After this more theoretical part, the sommeliers were able to visit the Murúa facilities with our sales manager. During their tour, they saw in detail the work of our master coopers, and were particularly impressed to discover that many tasks are still carried out by hand.

They were also very curious to learn about technical details such as times, temperatures and the use of the swimming pool.

The Wine Educator, their teacher, stresses the usefulness of these activities, as they are more practical and, in the case of Murúa, it helps them to put a face to the origin of the aromas that they then analyse in class. In addition, having a visual reminder of how a barrel is made gives them security, confidence and professionalism when dealing with customers and defining the tasting notes of a wine.

The visit of the ADE students

On this occasion, the meeting with 35 Business Administration and Management students focused more on the history of Murúa as a family business, as the objective in this case was to introduce them to our business model and the strong values behind it.

Thanks to this initiative of the AREF and the Chair of Family Business at the University of La Rioja, the students had the opportunity to visit the plant, where they learned about the complete process of making a barrel.

They were then welcomed by Elena Ceca, who spoke in more depth about how, since its beginnings, Murúa has been able to integrate innovation, social responsibility and internationality thanks to efficient and quality management.

The importance of training at Tonelería Murúa

In addition to these two training activities, during the rest of the year we organise other meetings, such as those for oenology students from the University of La Rioja or Master of Wine students. On some occasions, children with high abilities have also come to see us.

Before the pandemic, we were able to meet the students of the Master’s Degree in Oenology from a university in Madrid, whom we hope to receive again soon when the situation allows it.

Visits like these help us to highlight the value of our history and our trade while creating links with other institutions and companies. In this way, we ensure that learning flows in both directions, since listening to the doubts, questions or concerns that arise during the training sessions also helps Tonelería Murúa.

YOU WILL FIND US AT OUR NEW ADDRESS: AVDA LENTISCARES 35, 26370 NAVARRETE, LA RIOJA.