Every Type Of White Wine Explained Leave a comment

Rioja may be one of the most well-known types of wine in the world. As a red wine, it’s often age-worthy, elegant, and bursting with aromas of tobacco, plums, and berries. So perhaps it’s time for white Rioja wines to receive just as much attention.

Viura or macabeo, as it’s called in France, is the primary grape used in the white style of Rioja wines, or Rioja blancos. As with the red Riojas, Rioja blancos adhere to specific aging regulations to be able to include certain words on the bottle’s label.

Reserva Rioja blanco, for example, must be aged for 24 months, with 6 months in an oak cask, says Wine Folly. While it may seem complicated, the most important thing to note is that you can expect some different tastes depending on the age of the wine. Older Rioja blancos will have nutty, caramelized notes, while younger ones will have more citrus notes.

So what to eat with your viura or Rioja blanco? Keep it easy with foods that are traditionally served in Spain: cheese, grilled meats, and fish won’t let you down (via Recette Magazine).