VALENCISO RIOJA BLANCO

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas combining floral characters with preserved lemon and gently smoky notes. The palate is intense and broad with nuts, stone fruit, minerality and balancing citrus acidity on the finish. Will continue to develop in the bottle.  

About the wine:

Grapes are sourced from 80 year old vines on clay, stone soil in the North of the Rioja Alta area - these vineyards are of outstanding quality. Sustainable viticultural practices are followed. The Viura and Garnacha Blanca bunches are destemmed, very softly pressed, and then transferred to 225 litre Caucasian oak barrels for fermentation (with indigenous yeasts) and around 9 months ageing.   

About the Producer:

Valenciso is a collaberation by experienced Rioja winemakers Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso. Established in 1998 in the village of Ollauri in the north of Rioja Alta, the vineyard enjoys an Atlantic influence on its climate, lessening the summer heat, and poor quality soil (hence ideal for growing grapes) of clay and limestone. 

All fermentation at Valenciso is undertaken in concrete tanks to ensure a lively and long lived wine and all the winemaking equipment is stainless steel including a sophisticated temperature control system. All aging of the wines is in French oak less than 3 years old.

Currently in transition to fully organic status, Valenciso has been working in an organic, and in some instances biodynamic, manner for quite some time. In partnership with Enonatura, Valenciso has instigated a comprehensive sustainability programme in its vineyards and its winery. They do not use herbicides, pesticides or insecticides.  

Food match:

A white wine that will benefit from decanting, serve with Hake and a saffron and mustard mash. 

This wine is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.