Urbina, White Rioja Crianza Viura 2014

€21.99

This is rare, very fine, under-rated and scintillating white wine.

If it were Burgundian there wouldn't be any left.

It is from a classic European wine region, made impeccably well, aged to perfection and in a tried, respected and proven traditional method.

This is wine that is for serious wine-lovers.

But! It's not priced like that at all. Not only does the Urbina family make excellent wines, they age them for us until they are ready to be consumed, and then... they don't charge extra?! It's a real win-win scenario and we have been completely won over by our discovery of the winery. 

A genuine treat for us and we hope for you too, at superb value for money.

This is a white wine that was fermented with natural yeasts, left in contact with its lees and aged in American oak barrels for 6-8 months and then left to rest for years before being released for sale. It was unfiltered too so there is a quite lovely haze thrown in some glasses, but that's all good (and it's part of the charm).

The flavours are off the charts, but aren't delivered in an overly-intense manner and not all at once: stone fruit, melon and ripe citrus with hints of jasmine and fennel yield to a palate with those flavours assisted by apricot, honey, dried grass and blossom. There is a freshness to the wine that also shows a subtle bitter twang at the back of the palate that makes your mouth water: this is a spectacular food wine.

It's from a family winery in the very west of the Rioja Alta subzone, where all the vineyards they own are farmed organically. They have 150 years of tradition in the same family and are certainly not swayed by modern trends to high-extract, big, punchy and dense styles of wine (not that we don't like those styles, it's just interesting to know where this family stands!). Aging wine in their own cellars until ready for consumption is a noble but expensive occupation: what's incredible is that they don't charge us a massive premium for it.

This is wine that is from a classic European wine region, made perfectly in a traditional method and aged, released and sold as a continuum of a that tradition out of which which they have grown. It's very respectable.

And the wines are immensely enjoyable.

Region: Rioja Alta

Country: Spain

Grape(s): Viura

Style: Vibrant, Refined, Pure, Profound, Perfumed, Organic, Mineral, Medium Bodied, Meditation, Iconic, Herbaceous, Fruity, Fresh, Fleshy, Elegant, Creamy, Complex, Bright, Balanced

Best food matches: Warm Salads, Tuna, Trout, Tapas, Sushi, St Stephen's Day, Squid, Soft Cheeses, Shellfish, Seafood, Scallops, Salads, Poultry, Pork, Oysters, Mature Cheeses, Lobster, Lamb, Hard Cheeses, Grilled Vegetables, Goat's Cheese, Fine Dining, Duck, Christmas Dinner, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Baked Fish, Asparagus

Alcohol: 12.5%

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.