Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2021: best 2022 to 2026.
vintage1 yrs5 yrs8 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2021 | 89/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: white peach, citrus, white flower, subtle toast
Palate: green apple, citrus, creamy texture, mineral
A barrel-fermented modern white Rioja: fresh stone fruit and citrus with a creamy lees texture and gentle toast, an easy gastronomic white.
What it pairs with
-
Bacalao al pil pil
Find bacalao al pil pil on TableJourney →
Salt cod's emulsified oil meets the white's creamy texture. -
Pintxos de autor
Find pintxos de autor on TableJourney →
A versatile barrel-fermented white for a varied pintxo bar. -
Grilled prawns
Charred shellfish and the wine's citrus lift align.
How to serve Muga Blanco
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Bacalao al pil pil, Pintxos de autor, Grilled prawns. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Muga Blanco is the house's fresh, barrel-fermented white, a modern style of white Rioja meant for early drinking.
- 1956: Muga Blanco introduced
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Muga · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Viura (90%), Malvasia (10%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Fermented in oak barrels with lees stirring
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 10 to 16 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1 to 5 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1956
Frequently asked about Muga Blanco
What does Muga Blanco taste like?
On the nose, white peach, citrus, white flower, subtle toast. On the palate, green apple, citrus, creamy texture, mineral. Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a medium finish. A barrel-fermented modern white Rioja: fresh stone fruit and citrus with a creamy lees texture and gentle toast, an easy gastronomic white.
When should I drink Muga Blanco?
Drink 1 to 5 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Muga Blanco?
Bacalao al pil pil is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pintxos de autor and Grilled prawns. Salt cod's emulsified oil meets the white's creamy texture.
Is Muga Blanco vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Muga Blanco?
The blend is Viura (90%), Malvasia (10%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
Rioja Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Pintxos Lunch
Discover Rioja on a full-day wine tour visiting 3 wineries in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. Taste local wines, explore wine country and enjoy a traditional pintxos lunch.
RIOJA: WINE TOUR WITH THE OWNER OF A WINERY
Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own 1881 winery, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.