2024 Bodegas Santalba Que Vida Rioja Viura

Que Vida Viura 2024 radiates a burnished, golden-orange glow—proof that Rioja’s native white grape can dazzle when treated like a red. Whole Viura clusters ferment with their skins in sealed concrete vats, an ancestral technique that coaxes gentle tannins, amber hues, and layers of dried apricot, mandarin peel, and herbal tea. No added sulfites, only native yeasts and patient ageing, keep the wine vibrantly alive, its stony acidity slicing through the silky texture. Each sip feels both rustic and refined, marrying orchard-fruit charm with a whisper of savory earth. Serve cool, not cold, and let its autumn-sun warmth unfurl slowly in the glass.

Nose: Dried orange blossom, apricot skin, and rooibos rise over subtle nutmeg and wet slate.

Palate: Candied tangerine, kumquat, and chamomile glide across fine, tea-like tannins, lifted by a crisp mineral backbone.

Finish: Long, dry, and mouth-watering, echoing citrus oils, almond husk, and a faint saline snap.

Loves bold, Mediterranean flavors yet flatters simple fare—think roast chicken rubbed with saffron, Moroccan carrot salad sprinkled with toasted almonds, or oven-baked cod dressed with olives and preserved lemon.