Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Blanco, DOCa, Spain, 2024

Producer Profile

In 1970 Luis Cañas changed two hundred years of tradition and became the first winemaker in Rioja Alavesa to bottle his young wine rather than sell it as bulk.

This bold move, and his continued pioneering spirit, has cemented the winery's enviable reputation as one of the most progressive in the region. Sheltered below the watchful Sierra Cantabria, the vineyards are all old, small plots on chalky-clay soils with a dedicated team of vineyard workers carrying out organic practices and a purpose built, fully equipped accommodation block was built for the entire vineyard team in 2006.

Viticulture

Bodegas Luis Cañas is a traditional family run firm that dates back to 1928, although they've grown grapes and made wine on a smaller scale for more than a century. Today, it is one of the leading winegrowers in Rioja Alavesa. The grapes required are sourced from over 270 hectares, between owned and controlled, of old high-altitude vineyards. The vines are nurtured following an agricultural system implanted by the family that makes maximum use of natural products to limit the environmental impact.

Winemaking

Upon reception at the winemaking cellar, the grapes are cold macerated at 6ºC for 12 hours in order to obtain all the aromatic potential of the varietal. After pressing and "débourbage", the wine is fermented under strict temperature control in order to avoid exceeding 15ºC and the wine losing its aromas.

Tasting Note

A beautiful golden yellow colour with green tinted reflections. On nose it is elegant with pear and apple and some tropical fruit as well as hints of bush and fig tree leaves. Fresh, elegant and smooth but really well structured.

Food Matching

Ideal as an aperitif, with tapas, salads, poultry and light fish dishes.