2020 Allende Blanco, Rioja, Spain

Viura is a synonym for Macabeo and is the most widely planted white grape variety in Rioja. It is a fairly straightforward grape to cultivate, although it is susceptible to disease and in particular to downy mildew and grey rot. It is a generous-yielding grape and in Rioja it tends to be blended with approximately 5% Malvasia to produce classic white Riojas. In Rioja Alvesa it is often blended with Tempranillo to produce high quality Red Riojas.

Finca Allende, the estate created by Brother and sister team Mercedes and Miguel Angel de Gregorio, is located in the hill town of Briones in the Rioja Alta. 'Allende' can be roughly translated as 'further'; its philosophy is to go further and further towards creating the perfect Rioja. This has been done by marrying the old and the new, by embracing the traditional grape varieties but then treating them to new French oak. A further distinguishing characteristic, apart from their ripeness and structure, is that Allende's best wines are vineyard-based, with focus on the expression of Rioja's varied terroir. Finca Allende's production comes from their own 22 hectares supplemented by contracts with certain other growers in Briones. The principal cuvée is 100% Tempranillo aged for thirteen months in predominantly French oak. The oldest vines (Tempranillo with some Graciano) are kept back to make Aurus. The full potential of the estate is eloquently illustrated by Calvario, a single-vineyard wine from 65+ year-old Tempranillo vines with magnificent aromatics and lush fruit, that clearly underlines the family's qualitative aspirations.