Contino Blanco
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3 to 10 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can age gracefully for 15 years or more.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted chicken or pork loin, grilled firm-fleshed fish, and creamy mushroom risotto.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Viñedos del Contino, founded in 1973 by CVNE, pioneered the single-estate 'château' concept in Rioja Alavesa. The estate's rich history is tied to the 'continos'—the royal lifeguards who protected the Spanish monarchs since the 15th century. Contino Blanco is a sophisticated Spanish white wine, primarily composed of Viura with small percentages of Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía. Cultivated in the alluvial soils of a dramatic loop in the Ebro River, the vines enjoy a sheltered microclimate. The wine undergoes fermentation and aging in a combination of French oak barrels, acacia wood, and concrete vats, yielding a beautifully textured palate with vibrant acidity, mineral undertones, and complex notes of citrus, white peach, and refined oak spice.
🍾 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.