Rioja Reserva 2017 – Contino

The Rioja Reserva Contino was made from perfectly ripe, hand-selected and harvested grapes from our own vineyards around Finca de San Rafael. The grapes were destemmed and then fermented in 12,000 litre stainless steel tanks at 28-30¼C. After a post fermentative maceration of 15 to 20 days, malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was then racked to previously used barrels (40% American oak and 60% French) where it remained for two years. It was then bottled and aged for a further year in underground cellars until being released to the market. The grapes of the Rioja Reserva Contino are from a variety of micro-vineyards in the area surrounding Viñedos del Contino with distinct soil types (alluvial, clay-limestone, saline and sandy). In constant search of the perfect harmony between vineyards situated in the privileged environment of Viñedos del Contino. Contino was founded in 1973, becoming the first Rioja chateau concept winery. The former manor house in Laserna, in the municipality of Laguardia, is surrounded by 62 hectares of vineyards from which all its wines are sourced along a bend of the river Ebro. Its 16th-century cave cellars are amongst the oldest in the Rioja region. The history of the house dates back to the 16th century and is reflected in the winery’s name. The officer in charge of the one hundred soldiers who watched over the royal family continuously (or ‘de continuo’ in Spanish), from the Catholic Monarchs era onwards, was known as the ‘contino’. The 62 hectares of vineyards are divided into individual plots, all of which are harvested and cultivated separately. This allows for the best understanding of each plot and wines that reflect their own unique characteristics. Rioja’s first single vineyard wine since 1973. Contino wines are internationally renowned for their fruity, modern and elegant character, heirs to the finest Rioja tradition.