Vina Real Gran Reserva by Vina Real

Structure

Bodyfull

Tanninmedium

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2015: best 2023 to 2040.

vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
Tim Atkin reviewed 2022	2015	92/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice

Palate: red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury

The historic Vina Real Gran Reserva: long-aged, savoury and balanced, a classical CVNE red from Rioja Alavesa fruit.

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.More wines for lamb →
Chuleton de buey a la brasa A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Jamon iberico Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.More wines for ham →
Roast partridge Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.More wines for game →

With cheese

Queso Camerano Our pick Two years or more in oak and long bottle ageing make Gran Reserva Rioja mature and complex, medium in tannin and high in acidity; curado Camerano, hard, salty and faintly bitter with wild-herb notes, meets that depth, and the acidity cuts its fat.

How to serve Vina Real Gran Reserva

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: 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

Vina Real has been a CVNE brand since the 1920s, with the Gran Reserva a long-aged classic.

1920Vina Real brand established

Facts

Producer: Vina Real · visiting guide
Grapes: Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (5%), Garnacha (3%), Mazuelo (2%)
Classification: DOCa Rioja
Oak: Around 24 months in French and American oak, then long bottle ageing
ABV: 14.0%
Price: EUR 25 to 45 at retail
Drinking window: 8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage: 1920

Frequently asked about Vina Real Gran Reserva

What does Vina Real Gran Reserva taste like?

On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice. On the palate, red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The historic Vina Real Gran Reserva: long-aged, savoury and balanced, a classical CVNE red from Rioja Alavesa fruit.

When should I drink Vina Real 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 Real 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 Real 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 Real Gran Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (5%), Garnacha (3%), Mazuelo (2%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Vina Real

Logroño: guided visit + tasting of 3 wines at Viña Ijalba

Starts 15 km awayGuided tour75 minutes4.7 from 56 reviewsfrom €25

Discover Viña Ijalba, a pioneer in organic viticulture in Rioja. Just five minutes from the center, enjoy a tour with a tasting of three premium wines, accompanied by ...

Check dates and book

Rioja: Wine tour with a winery owner

Starts 16 km awayGuided tour7 hours5.0 from 22 reviewsfrom €300

Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own winery from 1881, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.

Check dates and book