Antea Fermentado Barrica
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Baked white fish in butter sauce, roasted chicken or poultry with herbs, and creamy pasta dishes or mushroom risotto.
✨ Technical Specifications
Marqués de Cáceres, founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, played a pivotal role in modernizing the Rioja region by introducing French winemaking techniques under the guidance of legendary Bordeaux enologist Émile Peynaud. The 'Antea' is a beautiful expression of this legacy, elevating the traditional white Viura grape (often blended with a touch of Malvasía) through barrel fermentation in new French oak. Grown in the cool, Atlantic-influenced clay-limestone vineyards of Rioja Alta, the grapes undergo fermentation and subsequent lees stirring (battonage) in barrel. This technique coaxes out a rich, creamy texture and complex aromas of toasted brioche, citrus peel, and white flowers, bridging the gap between historical Spanish weight and modern freshness.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1970 by Enrique Forner in Cenicero, Marqués de Cáceres spearheaded the modern renaissance of Rioja. Drawing on his experience revitalizing Bordeaux estates like Château Camensac, Forner enlisted legendary oenologist Émile Peynaud to introduce temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation and French oak barriques, shifting focus toward vibrant fruit character rather than oxidation. Today directed by Enrique's daughter, Cristina Forner, the house collaborates closely with multi-generational growers across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, cultivating primarily Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano across calcareous clay and alluvial terraces sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria. Beyond benchmark oak-matured Rioja expressions—such as Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, and the flagship cuvée Gaudium—the estate has strategically broadened its footprint. Its repertoire now includes crisp Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc from Rueda, Deusa Nai Albariño from Rías Baixas, and method traditional Cava, all maintaining the firm’s hallmark of meticulous quality, freshness, and structural finesse.
🍇 Grapes
Viura (Macabeo), Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca