Sierra Cantabria Blanco

D.O.Ca. Rioja

San Vicente de la Sonsierra

49% Sauvignon Blanc, 36% Viura, 15% Malvasía

Estate owned vineyards surrounding the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, sandwiched between the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range and the Ebro River.

1950-2000

Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic practices. Vineyards trained as spur-pruned goblet vines as well as high density trellises. Manual work and harvest, with no mechanization whatsoever.

Calcareous clay soils that are typical to the Sonsierra Riojana. Limestone rich clay soils that are sandwiched between large slabs of lime-sandstone mother rock.

Continental with heavy Atlantic influences that are moderated by the Sierra Cantabria.

The grapes undergo rigorous double-manual sorting, both before and after destemming. 100% of the clusters are destemmed, and an eight hour cold soak is carried out in stainless steel tanks. Once pressed, the must is inoculated with indigenous yeasts that have been selected from their vineyard and cellar. Fermentation is carried out in second through fifth use French oak barriques.

Two months in second through fifth use French oak barriques. Aging is carried out in subterranean cellars that were carved by the family at the end of the 1990's. Due to the low temperatures and high humidity, the rate of oxidation is reduced allowing the family to work with low levels of SO2.

Sierra Cantabria Blanco is the entry level white Rioja bottling produced by the Eguren family of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. While the family is most well known for their single cru classified bottlings, they produce outstanding village wines from their estate vineyards in San Vicente.