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 2015: best 2023 to 2040.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2015 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, dried herb, tobacco, cedar, balsamic
Palate: savoury red fruit, fine tannin, spice, leather
Reborn as a Gran Reserva, Vina Arana is the more elegant, fresher and more savoury of the house's classic pair, with a touch of French oak adding finesse.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast guinea fowl
Lighter game meets Arana's elegant, savoury frame.
How to serve Vina Arana Gran Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Once a Reserva, Vina Arana was relaunched as a Gran Reserva in the 2010s, positioned as the more elegant counterpoint to the fruitier Ardanza.
- 1976: Vina Arana established
- 2012: Relaunched as a Gran Reserva
Facts
- Producer
- La Rioja Alta S.A. · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 3 years in American and French oak, then long bottle ageing
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 50 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1976
Frequently asked about Vina Arana Gran Reserva
What does Vina Arana Gran Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, dried herb, tobacco, cedar, balsamic. On the palate, savoury red fruit, fine tannin, spice, leather. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Reborn as a Gran Reserva, Vina Arana is the more elegant, fresher and more savoury of the house's classic pair, with a touch of French oak adding finesse.
When should I drink Vina Arana Gran Reserva?
Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Arana Gran Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Vina Arana Gran Reserva 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 Vina Arana Gran Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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