Contino Reserva 937
⏳ Drinking Window
2026 - 2050
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary, grilled prime ribeye steak, or aged sheep's milk cheeses like Manchego.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in 1973 in a historic bend of the River Ebro, Viñedos del Contino revolutionized Rioja by introducing the single-estate 'château' concept to the region. This historic estate, centered around an elegant 16th-century manor house in Laserna, Rioja Alavesa, benefits from a unique microclimate protected by the Cerro de la Mesa hill. The Contino Reserva is a masterful expression of this singular terroir, typically composed of a Tempranillo-dominant blend enriched with Graciano, Mazuelo, and Garnacha. The inclusion of Graciano—for which the estate is highly renowned—imparts a signature freshness and longevity. Aged meticulously in a combination of French and American oak barrels followed by extensive bottle aging, this Reserva seamlessly marries the traditional complexity of Rioja with modern fruit purity, offering notes of dark berries, balsamic undertones, sweet spices, and a refined mineral finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1879 in Haro's iconic Barrio de la Estación by brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE) stands as an architectural and viticultural pillar of DOCa Rioja. Still stewarded by fifth-generation descendants under CEO Víctor Urrutia, the historic house commands premier vineyard parcels across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, rooted primarily in calcareous clay and alluvial gravel under an Atlantic-moderated continental climate. CVNE has historically driven technical modernizations, incorporating gravity-flow winemaking, Eiffel-engineered cellars, and early concrete fermentation vats alongside classical oak maturation. Viticulture emphasizes environmental stewardship, evidenced by active membership in International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). The house crafts legendary expressions, from the flagship Imperial Gran Reserva and the singular Real de Asúa to pioneering whites such as Viña Real Blanco, Monopole Clásico, and the scarce Corona Gran Reserva, reflecting balance, age-worthiness, and traditional Spanish winemaking precision.
🍇 Grapes
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo