Red dry
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Rioja 2020 is one of the most iconic wines of the traditional Rioja style, combining the region's long winemaking tradition with precise aging. Viña Ardanza Reserva has been considered one of the most important representatives of the classic Rioja DOCa since the mid-20th century, and the 2020 harvest is characterized by extremely good grape ripeness and lively structure. The wine is made from approximately 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha grapes grown in different areas of Rioja.
The aroma reveals the classic character of mature Rioja: cherries, plums, dried strawberries and red currants merge with vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, tobacco and subtle balsamic tones. The aroma is multi-layered, soft and very harmonious, with a typical spicy character provided by American oak.
The wine is elegant, silky in texture, full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and refreshing acidity. The palate reveals notes of cherries, plums, dried fruit, sweet spices, cocoa, tobacco and delicate leather. The aftertaste is long, clean and extremely refined – precisely the kind that makes Viña Ardanza often considered the benchmark Reserva style Rioja wine.
The grapes are hand-picked from older plots of vines in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental zones. The ‘Tempranillo’ comes from vines around 30 years old in the Cenicero and Fuenmayor areas, while the ‘Garnacha’ comes from the Tudelilla vineyards located higher up. The region’s climate, calcareous clay soils and wide temperature fluctuations allow for a perfect balance between ripeness and freshness.
The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then the individual varieties are aged for a long time in American oak barrels: ‘Tempranillo’ for about 36 months, ‘Garnacha’ for about 30 months. After aging in barrels, the wine is further aged in the bottle before being released on the market. La Rioja Alta is famous for its traditional hand racking (‘racking’) by candlelight – one of the historical Rioja winemaking practices that has survived to this day.
Serve at a temperature of 16 - 18 °C, with various meat dishes, stews. Also goes well with desserts with dark chocolate.
Bodegas La Rioja Alta is undoubtedly a representative of old Rioja, exceptionally valuing and cultivating the region's traditional winemaking methods. Their “Gran Reserva” wine is aged for no less than six years in barrel and a further two years in bottle before reaching the consumer, embodying patience and mastery. The high-altitude vineyards of La Rioja Alta, with their unique conditions, lend a subtlety to the wines, sometimes even reminiscent of Burgundy’s ‘Pinot Noir’. While the La Rioja Alta group also includes wineries in Galicia (Rias Baixas) and Ribera del Duero (Burgos), it is their traditional Rioja style that remains their hallmark.
Wine Style
La Rioja Alta wines are characterized by elegance, complexity, and longevity. They reflect the harmony between Rioja terroir and traditional winemaking.
Prestigious Vineyards
La Rioja Alta manages high-altitude vineyards in the Rioja Alta region:
These unique vineyard characteristics and meticulous work in the vineyard are the foundation for the distinctive character of La Rioja Alta wines.
Aging and Drinking Window
La Rioja Alta wines are crafted for slow enjoyment. The long aging process in oak barrels and bottles imparts exceptional complexity and harmony. While these wines can be enjoyed in their youth, their true potential unfolds after many years of bottle aging. They are wines valued for their longevity and ability to improve over time.
