Of Basque origin, but considering himself very close to French culture, Telmo Rodriguez studied winemaking at the Bordeaux Institute of Oenology before completing internships with Cos d’Estournel, Jean Louis Chave, and Trevallon. Telmo Rodríguez and his partner and friend Pablo Eguzkiza founded Compañia de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez in 1994. The project identified old vineyards throughout Spain planted with indigenous grape varieties, which they believed had potential. In 1998, while working at the family winery Remelluri de Telmo in Rioja Alavesa, they began acquiring old vineyards around the town of Lanciego. This was the catalyst for Bodega Lanzaga.