Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva

€43.99

This monumental wine is one of the icons of Alavesa, Rioja and Spain. It is endlessly complex, elegant, sophisticated and rewarding. Red fruits, spice and notes of summer flowers decorate this sensational wine. Reserved for Grand Occaisions, it is one of the wines that you'll remember and want to return to as often as you can manage it.

The Viña Real Gran Reserva has stood out as one of the great classics of Rioja Alavesa (and indeed Spain) for several decades at this point, and it's easy to see why.

In the vineyards, they have smaller plots specifically reserved for their Gran Reserva, at higher altitudes between 500 and 650 metres to gain full ripeness and retain freshness. It's made up of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano. All Viña Real wines are made from grapes grown in the Rioja Alavesa subregion. This is a farming area where farming is almost exclusively dedicated to growing grapes. And it has been this way for generations. The Gran Reserva grapes are sourced exclusively from Viña Real's own vineyards in Laguardia and Labastida.

Ageing is carried out in new, single-use oak barrels, where the wine rests for an average of 24 months. Once in the bottle, the texture and characteristic roundness comes after a minimum resting period of three years, which is the legal minimum. And that's just for starters, the Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva will continue to develop (and reward your patience) for decades. Yes, one for now, and a few more for 20 years hence, if you can resist it for that long...

The Vina Real winery building is very new and very modern. It is situated on the top of a hill and is then dug into the hill by at least fifty metres. Grapes arrive at the top of the hill and are hoisted above the crushing tanks, from where the juices flow to the fermenting vessels below and from there to the aging barrels in the caves underground.

Except for the lighting, there is no electricity used in the winemaking process in the entire building - no pumps, no churning, nothing.

This sustainable approach is part of the gentle and elegant style that the winery achieves in its wines and was unique in Rioja when the winery was built (it's now THE template for new wineries in the region!). You'd spot it a mile away if you were in the area: it's high up, big, metal, shiny and red.

95 points from Tim Atkin; 95 points Decanter magazine.

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Grape(s): Tempranillo, Graciano

Style: Vibrant, Svelte, Structured, Smooth, Profound, Med, Intense, Fruity, Fresh, Elegant, Complex, Bright

Best food matches: Poultry, Mature Cheeses, Lamb, Game, Fine Dining

Alcohol: 14%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.