Contino Reserva
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed from 8 to 20 years after the vintage release, as it possesses the structure and acidity to age gracefully.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb with rosemary, traditional Spanish tapas such as jamn Ibrico and aged Manchego cheese, or slow-cooked beef stews.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in 1973 as a partnership between CVNE and the owners of the Laserna estate, Viedos del Contino pioneered the single-estate 'chteau' concept in Rioja. The estate's history is steeped in heritage; its name pays homage to the 'continos,' the elite royal guards who protected Spanish monarchs since the late 15th century. Situated in a sweeping bend of the Ebro River in Rioja Alavesa, the vineyards benefit from a protective microclimate and ancient alluvial soils. The Contino Reserva is typically crafted from a blend dominated by Tempranillo, complemented by Graciano, Mazuelo, and Garnacha. Aged carefully in a combination of French and American oak barrels, this wine beautifully marries traditional Rioja complexity with modern precision, offering deep red fruit, balsamic undertones, and elegant, structured tannins.
🍾 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