3. 6 x ‘El Pedal’ Viura Blanco 2023 – Finca la Emperatriz, Rioja Alta, Spain

‘El Pedal’ Viura Blanco 2023 – Finca la Emperatriz, Rioja Alta, Spain
Consumer price 6 bottles: €71.70

Tasting notes
Delightfully fresh wine with vibrant aromas. Bursting with juicy notes of grapefruit, peach, flowers, and a touch of citrus in the background. The acidity is beautifully balanced with its bright, crisp flavor. The invigorating finish makes this wine simply irresistible.

Finca la Emperatriz
Finca la Emperatriz is one of the largest estates with its own vineyards in Rioja. In this case, large does not mean low quality. The Hernaiz family crafts their wines with great care. La Emperatriz is located in the heart of Rioja Alta, near Haro. The Sierra de Cantabria mountain range shields the region and its vineyards from the cooler north.

The estate has been called ‘La Emperatriz’ (The Empress) for over 100 years, as it once belonged to Maria Eugenia de Montijo, the wife of Napoleon III and Empress of France. Even then, the estate had an excellent reputation. Since 2005, the winery has produced wines under its own label; before that, the grapes were sold to others. The estate spans an impressive 100 hectares. While not all is planted with vines, they can be very selective. It’s the region’s largest landowner, with well-maintained vineyards, many old vines, and a state-of-the-art winemaking facility since 2005!