Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Nestled on the hillsides of Rioja Oriental, the Cerro La Isa vineyard overlooks the Najerilla River valley, near the village of Baños de Río Tobía in the province of La Rioja, northern Spain. Planted at altitude on poor soils of clay, gravel, and limestone outcrops, the old vines benefit from a continental climate tempered by Atlantic influence. This cool, breezy location allows for slow and complete ripening of the grapes, while preserving naturally high acidity and a pronounced mineral expression of the terroir.
Made from old, slow-ripening vines, this white wine is hand-harvested in small crates to preserve the integrity of the grapes. After gentle pressing, the must is clarified and then fermented at a controlled temperature to retain the aromatic purity and minerality of the terroir. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in carefully selected neutral containers to avoid imparting any color to the wine, with moderate stirring to add volume and complexity while respecting the natural freshness of the grape variety.
This wine reveals notes of ripe citrus , stone fruit , and green apple , complemented by touches of white flowers , hints of sweet spice , and a light smoky, toasty character from aging. The mineral structure underscores the freshness and adds tension. On the palate, the wine is ample and precise, supported by lively acidity, a slightly creamy texture, and a long, saline, and persistent finish that highlights the purity of the terroir.
Where are we traveling?
La Rioja
La Rioja is today the most famous wine region in Spain. Its northernmost vineyards are located in the neighboring regions of Navarre and the Basque Country. The region is defined by the Ebro River and the Cantabrian Mountains. These mountains, which border La Rioja to the north and west, provide shelter from the cold, damp influences of the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a warmer and drier climate than that of the north. La Rioja can be divided into three zones: → Rioja Alta is the western part of La Rioja. As its name suggests, the vineyards are located at higher altitudes. The soils contain more clay, iron, and alluvial elements, and less limestone than those of the neighboring Alavesa region. The wines tend to be considered elegant with balanced acidity. → Rioja Alavesa consists of two distinct enclaves of land adjacent to Rioja Alta. Although both are located within the Rioja region, they are not part of La Rioja itself, but rather belong to the Basque province of Álava. The vineyards are situated at similar altitudes to those of Rioja Alta, and the macroclimate is similar. The soils tend to be more calcareous than in Rioja Alta, and the wines can exhibit higher acidity. → Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja) is the eastern part of the Rioja region. The climate here is much more strongly influenced by the Mediterranean. Drier and warmer than the other two regions, Garnacha grapes are given greater prominence here. The wines can be significantly more full-bodied than those of the other sub-regions. Most of the region lies south of the Ebro River, within the La Rioja region. However, in the eastern zone, the Rioja vineyards north of the river are actually within the political boundaries of Navarre.
The little history of the country
Spain
The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.