Bela
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 8 years from the vintage release, offering a beautiful balance of youthful fruit and emerging tertiary complexity.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Traditional roast suckling lamb, grilled ribeye steak, or aged sheep's milk cheeses like Manchego.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Bela is a heartfelt tribute to Sofia, the daughter of CVNE's co-founder Eusebio Real de Asua, who was affectionately known as 'Bela' to her family. This wine marks CVNE's elegant expansion into the high-altitude terroir of Ribera del Duero within Castilla y Leon. The label itself is steeped in history, faithfully replicating an artistic design used by the winery back in 1910. Crafted predominantly from Tempranillo, locally revered as Tinta del Pais, the grapes are sourced from vineyards situated at demanding altitudes where extreme diurnal temperature shifts lock in fresh acidity and deep color. Aged carefully in a combination of French and American oak barrels, this wine marries the bold, dark fruit character of the region with sophisticated wood spice, supple tannins, and a refined, lasting finish.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1879 by the Real de Asúa brothers in the historic Barrio de la Estación of Haro, Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE) is a cornerstone of Rioja winemaking. Still family-controlled today, the estate is celebrated for its harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship and architectural innovation, featuring a legendary cellar designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel's studio. CVNE's philosophy centers on meticulous vineyard management across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, producing elegant, structurally complex wines aged in fine oak casks. The winery is globally renowned for its iconic labels, including the historic Imperial Gran Reserva, the fruit-forward Viña Real, and the single-estate expression Contino, which collectively define the pinnacle of classic Spanish Tempranillo.