Back to: Crisp, Dry Whites
White
Spain
Other Grape
Screwcap
Dry
No Oak
ABV 12.5%
Tasting notes
Very fresh, both in nose and on the palate; aromas of white fruit give way to a palate with a fresh citrus character. Ideal as an aperitif and to accompany simple baked or grilled fish.
Why we recommend this wine
When we visited Rioja (see our notes here) we were impressed with their white wines, both the aged oaked wines and the fresh unoaked wines of which this is a great example.
The wine
A blend of Viura, Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc (all wines along the same taste dimension) made from grapes from the Finca Carbonera vineyard in the Rioja Alavesa region. The vineyard, at 840m, is one of the highest in Rioja, ideal for white grapes. The wine making process is done at low temperatures with minimum exposure to oxygen, all to achieve freshness.
The wine estate
El Coto de Rioja, located in Oyón, was founded in 1970 by a group of winemakers committed to creating a new type of Rioja. Its first bottling was released in 1975. Today, its red, white and rosado are widely admired . White wine making only started in 2010 but has been so successful that they have established a separate winery for white wines.
elcoto.com
Food and wine
Flowery and fruit aromas and a lemony palate mean that this is made for dishes where a dash of lemon is an enhancement; subtly flavoured seafood in all its guises. Also see our guide to pairing food and wine here.
Did you know?
Viura (also know as Macabeo in the rest of Spain from whence it originates) is by far the most planted white wine grape in Rioja. It has the unusual virtue of being capable of making dry white wines, often blends, with real verve and character that improve with age.
Very fresh, both in nose and on the palate; aromas of white fruit give way to a palate with a fresh citrus character. Ideal as an aperitif and to accompany simple baked or grilled fish.
Why we recommend this wine
When we visited Rioja (see our notes here) we were impressed with their white wines, both the aged oaked wines and the fresh unoaked wines of which this is a great example.
The wine
A blend of Viura, Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc (all wines along the same taste dimension) made from grapes from the Finca Carbonera vineyard in the Rioja Alavesa region. The vineyard, at 840m, is one of the highest in Rioja, ideal for white grapes. The wine making process is done at low temperatures with minimum exposure to oxygen, all to achieve freshness.
The wine estate
El Coto de Rioja, located in Oyón, was founded in 1970 by a group of winemakers committed to creating a new type of Rioja. Its first bottling was released in 1975. Today, its red, white and rosado are widely admired . White wine making only started in 2010 but has been so successful that they have established a separate winery for white wines.
elcoto.com
Food and wine
Flowery and fruit aromas and a lemony palate mean that this is made for dishes where a dash of lemon is an enhancement; subtly flavoured seafood in all its guises. Also see our guide to pairing food and wine here.
Did you know?
Viura (also know as Macabeo in the rest of Spain from whence it originates) is by far the most planted white wine grape in Rioja. It has the unusual virtue of being capable of making dry white wines, often blends, with real verve and character that improve with age.