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 2024.
vintage1 yrs3 yrs8 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2021 | 86/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: white flower, green apple, citrus, honeysuckle
Palate: apple, gentle sweetness, citrus, fresh
The house's famous off-dry white: floral, gently sweet and fresh, a historic aperitif-style Rioja white with a loyal following.
What it pairs with
-
Pintxos de autor
Find pintxos de autor on TableJourney →
The gentle sweetness tames spice and salt across a pintxo spread. -
Tarta de queso vasca
Find tarta de queso vasca on TableJourney →
Off-dry fruit echoes the burnt Basque cheesecake's sweetness. -
Fresh fruit and almonds
An aperitif white for nibbles before dinner.
How to serve Diamante
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. Pintxos de autor, Tarta de queso vasca, Fresh fruit and almonds. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Diamante is the house's historic off-dry white, one of Spain's best-known semi-sweet wines.
- 1922: Diamante off-dry white established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Franco-Espanolas · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Viura (85%), Malvasia Riojana (15%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Stainless steel, no oak
- ABV
- 11.5%
- Price
- EUR 7 to 12 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1 to 3 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1922
Frequently asked about Diamante
What does Diamante taste like?
On the nose, white flower, green apple, citrus, honeysuckle. On the palate, apple, gentle sweetness, citrus, fresh. Structurally medium-bodied, high acidity with a medium finish. The house's famous off-dry white: floral, gently sweet and fresh, a historic aperitif-style Rioja white with a loyal following.
When should I drink Diamante?
Drink 1 to 3 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Diamante?
Pintxos de autor is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Tarta de queso vasca and Fresh fruit and almonds. The gentle sweetness tames spice and salt across a pintxo spread.
Is Diamante 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 Diamante?
The blend is Viura (85%), Malvasia Riojana (15%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
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