The success of a classic Rioja which has been a safe bet for holiday dinners since 1890.
Viña Albina Reserva Vendimia Seleccionada 2011 received recognition as the best Rioja wine in the Rioja Masters 2016 competition organised by the renowned UK magazine, The Drinks Business. This is yet another success for this classic Rioja, whose inimitable character is valued and rewarded by international critics. It is also highly-appreciated by Spanish consumers, “who have made Viña Albina one of the favourite wines in its category,” says Bodegas Riojanas CEO Santiago Frías, for whom the slogan used for this historic brand, ‘In the family since 1890’, “synthesizes the personality and values that best define Viña Albina. It is the first brand with which we started to market our wines in the late nineteenth century and has since come to be an indispensable companion in the family celebrations of several generations of Spanish consumers.”
Truly representative of classic Reservas, Viña Albina has become one of the most highly-recognised brands in the D.O.Ca. Rioja, capable of arousing strong loyalty among consumers, to the point of being one of the best sellers in its category . Bodegas Riojanas specialises in premium, barrel-aged wines and 65% of its sales are in the Reserva and Gran Reserva categories. This is a very high percentage if one takes into account that, in the D.O.Ca. Rioja as a whole, these categories barely amount to 18% of sales.
Viña Albina Reserva Vendimia Seleccionada 2011 is made with the traditional Rioja grapes (mainly Tempranillo complemented with Mazuelo and Graciano) coming from a selection of vineyard plots located in Cenicero and San Vicente de la Sonsierra; a blend that is truly representative of the classic Rioja Alta Reservas. New controlled fermentation technologies and long maceration periods were applied to make this wine, which was aged for traditionally long periods, with 24 to 30 months in American oak barrels and a minimum of 24 months in the bottle before being put on the market.
It is a wine with cherry-red hues and an elegant nose, with fruity aromas and full yet subtle nuances of ageing. Well-structured, with a velvety, well-balanced mouthfeel, it has both body and finesse. It leaves persistent, fragrant sensations that entice one to take another sip. An outstanding attribute is its ease of pairing with the most varied foods, making it highly versatile at the table.
One more year, Viña Albina will keep its traditional appointment at the Christmas celebrations. Santiago Frías, who represents the fifth generation at the helm of this hundred-year-old family company, underscores that “times change, but proper conventions do not, and Viña Albina remains a safe bet when toasting those special moments shared with family and friends with Rioja.”
