Azul y Garanza Viura, Navarra, Spain 2023 [1 Litre bottle]

The Azul y Garanza vineyards begin in the lunar landscaped Bardenas Reales Natural Park. Founders Dani Sánchez, María Barrena and Fernando Barrena work with “landscapes” – not merely vineyards - with each of their plots enjoying as much biological diversity as this harsh climate will allow. The surrounding plants, shrubs, trees, and animal/insect life play as much a part to the success of the grapes as the vines themselves. Winemaking is quite natural – the widespread, almost exclusive use of concrete vats, natural yeasts and gentle hands. 

• Winemaker: Dani Sánchez, María Barrena and Fernando Barrena
  Varieties: 100% Viura
• Farming: Certified organic
• Terroir: From the vineyards of Murillo & San Isidro del Pinar, located just north-west of the Bardenas Reales. Certified organic and handpicked grapes from vines that are an average age of 15 years old on clay-calcareous at 400 meters.
• Vinification: Handpicked. The grapes undergo a 16 day, wild yeast fermentation in concrete tank followed by
• Aging: brief aging in stainless steel until bottling and release.
• Tasting Notes: Fresh, dry and delicious, making the case for bigger is better (at least in terms of volume). Viura (you may know as Macabeo, or maybe as the white wine of Rioja) can tend to be somewhat neutral (boring) but the naturally low yields here preserve and bring out lively citrus and pear fruit flavors on a balanced backbone of acidity.