Carlos Serres Rioja Bianco 2023

Region: Rioja, Spain

Grape Varieties: 85% Viura & 15% Tempranillo Blanco

This wine is a blend of predominantly Viura, the local name for the Macabeo grape of eastern Spain, co-fermented with about 15% Tempranillo Blanco. The fruit is sourced from trusted growers who have long-standing contracts with the Serres family, all of whom work with predominantly younger vines. In the winery, the free-run juice ferments at cooler temperatures to block malolactic conversion. After fermentation in stainless steel the wine spends 2 months on the fine lees before bottling. When you open this wine, you will want to serve it chilled, but not ice cold as this will allow the natural aromatics of Tempranillo Blanco to develop. Once this wine has some time to open up it delivers notes of peeled green apple, pineapple rind, white flowers, and wet stones. Drink 2025-2027 with prosciutto-wrapped melon, grilled trout, or smoked pork chops.