Imperial Reserva
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2038
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb chops with rosemary, slow-cooked beef stews, and aged Manchego cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España), established in 1879 in Haro's historic Barrio de la Estación, is a cornerstone of Rioja winemaking. The 'Imperial' label, first created in the 1920s, owes its name to a unique bottling originally destined for the English market in 'Imperial pint' measures. This legendary wine is crafted only in exceptional vintages from estate-owned old vines in Rioja Alta, primarily around the village of Villalba. The blend is anchored by Tempranillo, complemented by Graciano and Mazuelo. Fermented in large oak vats and aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels before extensive bottle aging, Imperial Reserva represents the pinnacle of traditional Rioja: a harmonious balance of vibrant red fruit, refined acidity, structured tannins, and complex notes of leather, tobacco, and sweet spice.
🍾 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