For those who love a rich, oak driven wine, white Rioja can be the next step to life after Chardonnay. Like domestic Chardonnay, there are two distinct styles: the creamy, oakier style and the tangy more acid driven. The primary grape in white Rioja is Viura, known elsewhere in Spain as Macabeo. While many examples are entirely or nearly entirely Viura, Murua blends in 20% Garnacha Blanca and 30% Malvasia. The fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels (the type of oak more commonly used in your oaky, buttery domestic Chardonnays, as opposed to the American oak so popular in Rioja). Add the extended lees contact this wine undergoes, and you have a soft and silky white with rich toasty and vanilla flavors and a golden raisin and dried apricot fruit quality to the finish. Tired of your California Chardonnay? Take a trip to Spain!
(Wine, .White, .Spain, .Rioja, .Blend)
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