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
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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
- 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
Scores
- Tim Atkin 89 (2021 vintage, reviewed 2022)
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.