Top White Rioja Case

This century-old bodega in Haro is going through a resurgence under new ownership and is known for its whites. Made from mostly viura with some tempranillo blanco, this is multi-layered with notes of butter, citrus fruit and nuts. A wine of superb tension and breadth which has been skilfully aged in oak.

In Rioja the era between 1924 and 1974 is notable for the quality of its aged white wines and The Wine Society`s Generation Series Rioja Blanco Reserva is a nod to this historic style, one that has become somewhat eroded in recent times. The wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels and a further three years in bottle, resulting in a complex white with hints of floral notes and buttery, nutty flavours, soft texture and precise finish. For a video message from the winemaker, and for more on the story of this wine, please scroll down.

Traditional-style white Rioja, with its nutty rather than fruity flavour that works so beautifully with food, is undergoing a renaissance thanks to wines like this. No wonder our panel of tasters voted it one of our 2024 Wine Champions. For its richness and barrel-aged complexity, it is, as one taster put it ‘elevated` by a poised mineral freshness that makes it such a pleasure to drink. A great gastronomic white.

This wonderful, traditionally made white Rioja spent 14months in French oak and shows both power and elegance in the cooler 2020. Toasty, nutty and savoury layered with lovely white fruit and grapefruit. The Finca Allende Blanco is considered one of the finest examples of its kind. Steeped in history and tradition, the estate grown viura vines, and a splash of very old malvasia are handled with love and care. Vines are ploughed by mules, and grapes are meticulously harvested all by hand.

A white Rioja made to reflect the region`s traditional style, aged in contact with oxygen for an extended time. The result is characterful, distinctive and a must-try for lovers of white Rioja, or complex food-friendly wines in general. Golden in colour, its flavours are buttery and nutty rather than fruity, and it offers impressive structure.

Sierra Cantabria confess it's their mission to create the finest white wine possible from the Rioja region. Using a blend of the region`s indigenous classic white grapes, viura, malvasia and garnacha,has resulted in a wine that is weighty, pure and complete with tropical fruit and beautifully integrated, spicy oak.