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The Society's White Rioja 2020

3.833330000 star rating 18 Reviews
A classically styled white Rioja made from this great Spanish region's traditional white grapes (mostly viura with some malvasia), with a proportion aged in barrel. It is lemony gold in colour with aromas that are spicy and nutty, rather than fruity.
is no longer available
Code: SP17751

Wine characteristics

  • White Wine
  • 2 - Dry
  • Viura
  • 75cl
  • Now to 2024
  • 12.5% Alcohol
  • oak used but not v. noticeable
  • Cork, natural
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan

  • 100ml of this wine contains 77 kcal
  • The bottle contains 9.4 units of alcohol
  • A 125ml glass of this wine contains 96 kcal and 1.6 units of alcohol


The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units per week. For information and support on responsible drinking please see www.drinkaware.co.uk. For more information about how calories in wine are measured, click here.

Bodega Classica

Bodega Classica is an imposing winery atop a hill in the village of Sonsierra in the sub region of Rioja Alta amid the foothills of the Toloña Mountains, a part of the great Sierra de Cantabria range that does so much to protect the Rioja region from the less desirable Atlantic influences from the north.

At this positively shiny modern facility, built in 2006, all the grapes harvested from their surrounding 70 hectares of vineyards are gravity fed into vats and presses without the need to use intrusive pumps. Even the winery’s situation atop a hill is all part of the plan as it allows for air circulation to play a natural role in the temperature control of the complex and the cellars that are built into the hill below, again for the ease of temperature control that this naturally affords. It is attention to detail in such matters that amply illustrates the desire of Bodega Classica to produce high-quality wines.

Ricardo Arambarri manages the estate under the umbrella of a larger group called Vintae, established by his father, Riojan businessman and wine-lover José Miguel Arambarri Terrero, which operates winemaking projects in six other Spanish regions. They chose the area of Sonsierra for this particular project because they believe that the poor but well drained limestone-clay soils at 500-600 metres altitude up in the foothills provide a perfect terroir for old vine tempranillo, grown on bush-vines and hand-harvested at low yields.

The winemaking is in the classic Rioja...
Bodega Classica is an imposing winery atop a hill in the village of Sonsierra in the sub region of Rioja Alta amid the foothills of the Toloña Mountains, a part of the great Sierra de Cantabria range that does so much to protect the Rioja region from the less desirable Atlantic influences from the north.

At this positively shiny modern facility, built in 2006, all the grapes harvested from their surrounding 70 hectares of vineyards are gravity fed into vats and presses without the need to use intrusive pumps. Even the winery’s situation atop a hill is all part of the plan as it allows for air circulation to play a natural role in the temperature control of the complex and the cellars that are built into the hill below, again for the ease of temperature control that this naturally affords. It is attention to detail in such matters that amply illustrates the desire of Bodega Classica to produce high-quality wines.

Ricardo Arambarri manages the estate under the umbrella of a larger group called Vintae, established by his father, Riojan businessman and wine-lover José Miguel Arambarri Terrero, which operates winemaking projects in six other Spanish regions. They chose the area of Sonsierra for this particular project because they believe that the poor but well drained limestone-clay soils at 500-600 metres altitude up in the foothills provide a perfect terroir for old vine tempranillo, grown on bush-vines and hand-harvested at low yields.

The winemaking is in the classic Rioja style culminating in time in French and American oak with the length of its stay dependant on the status of the wine, eg reserva or gran reserva. The reserva, in which the tempranillo is ably supported by graciano, sees 20 months in barrels before a further two in bottle before release. Bodega Classica release their wines under a variety of labels including Lopez de Haro and Dominum.
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Daily Express

This majority Viura white from Rioja is barrel aged to create a deep gold-coloured wine with a warm, satisfying finish. Citrus, peaches and tropical fruits delight the nose with hints of nuttiness on the...
This majority Viura white from Rioja is barrel aged to create a deep gold-coloured wine with a warm, satisfying finish. Citrus, peaches and tropical fruits delight the nose with hints of nuttiness on the palate.
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Matt Nixson

The Observer

… a gently oaked savoury mouthful of toasted nuts and apple with a sleek feel … excellent alternative to … traditional French Christmas … oak-aged white Burgundy.

David Williams

Lynn News

[White Riojas] are one of the wine world's great affordable joys, as this one shows. Mid-gold in colour, the nose is a heartening blend of autumn fruits , vanilla and green apples. The palate is plump,...
[White Riojas] are one of the wine world's great affordable joys, as this one shows. Mid-gold in colour, the nose is a heartening blend of autumn fruits , vanilla and green apples. The palate is plump, packed with peach, apricot and crushed nut tones, with a fresh acidity that keeps it balanced and food friendly.
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Giles Luckett

Portsmouth News

White Rioja is becoming a much more common feature on wine shelves and restaurant wine lists and I think this is a style of wine that we should be taking much more seriously. The Society's White Rioja...
White Rioja is becoming a much more common feature on wine shelves and restaurant wine lists and I think this is a style of wine that we should be taking much more seriously. The Society's White Rioja 2020 is a really good introduction to modern white Rioja, it is made from viura with a little malvasia in the blend, both of which are in essence local grapes. It doesn't leap out of the glass, but it is really fresh with a little green apple and spice on the nose, followed by a nicely balanced palate with bright acidity and some nuttiness on the finish. This is not a showy wine in any sense but I really like its freshness and quiet subtle style , making it a perfect foof all-rounder and really good value for money.
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Alistair Gibson

Daily Express

This is a fine place to start if you'd like to experiment with a white Rioja. Apples and pears on the nose, with a super creamy finish and just a touch of citrus.

Matt Nixson

Belfast Newsletter

... delightfully dry, fabulously fresh and fragrant … Pronounced pear, apricot and apple flavours mingle on a luscious palate with backnotes of walnut before a brief, tingly finish which is enlivened by...
... delightfully dry, fabulously fresh and fragrant … Pronounced pear, apricot and apple flavours mingle on a luscious palate with backnotes of walnut before a brief, tingly finish which is enlivened by hints of white pepper and ginger.
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Raymond Gleug

Manchester Evening News

Less expensive Rioja Blanco is no longer the very oaky, thin, astringent wine it once was. Modern winemaking techniques that make the most of viura and maintain freshness have elevated it to my favourites ...
Less expensive Rioja Blanco is no longer the very oaky, thin, astringent wine it once was. Modern winemaking techniques that make the most of viura and maintain freshness have elevated it to my favourites list. It's a beautiful match for chicken and goes well with pumpkin and mushroom dishes. This one has a splash of malvasia which adds a little texture and spice.
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Andy Cronshaw

2019 vintage reviews
2018 vintage reviews

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