Pretium Rioja Blanco 2019
Member Price €23.57
One of the sneaky big sellers of the first year of WineSpark was white Rioja. So I was overjoyed when I came across this gem at the Barcelona wine fair.
It’s made by the extremely talented Berta Valgañon, in the far northwest corner of Rioja.
This is a wild and remote place - with unpredictable weather. In August it gets as low as 2°C at night, with extremely hot days. This variation in day/night temperature gives the grapes a real intensity of flavour and freshness.
Berta hand-picks the grapes from a single vineyard plot, planted by her great-grandfather 120 years ago. It’s a field blend of 45% Viura, 45% Malvasia and 10% Calagraño. It’s aged in old oak barrels for 11 months, 6 of which is on its lees.
The wine ends up distinctly fresh and fruity, with a lovely subtle smoky and nutty nose from the oak. On the palate it’s full and intense, with a satisfyingly long saline finish.
If you love white Burgundy but you’re after something a bit different, give this a try. And 93 points from Tim Atkin MW - high praise indeed.
| Wine type | White |
| Grape(s) | 45% Viura, 45% Malvasía of Rioja and 10% Calagraño |
| Country | Spain |
| Region of origin | Rioja |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Oak? | Yes |
| Months in Oak | 11 |
| Type of Oak | French oak, 500 litres |
| Allergens (e.g. does it contain Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) | None |
| Average age of vines | 120 years |
| Average altitude of vines (m) | 570m |
| Soil type(s) | Loam and limestone soil |
| Closure Type | Cork |
| Is this wine organic? | Yes |
| Biodynamic? | No |
| Sustainably produced? | Yes |
| Suitable for vegans? | Yes |
| Ageing potential | 5 years |
| Ideal drinking window | 2022 - 2027 |
In wine, there's nothing like the thrill of discovering something new, from someone who absolutely deserves success. And Berta is exactly that person.
FOR IRELAND
We know how important it is to get your wine order quickly and efficiently. So we’ve partnered with UPS to offer next-day delivery on our wines.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free - delivery is already included in the members' price
- It’s fast - you’ll get next-day delivery if you order before 12pm Monday-Thursday
- It’s environmentally-friendly - all of our orders are shipped carbon neutral with UPS.
€2 per case is added to all Northern Ireland orders to cover additional shipping costs. The point of sale occurs in the Republic of Ireland.
Our minimum order requirement is 6 bottles and we ship in multiples of 6’s. This can be 6 different bottles!
You may need to show your ID on delivery.
Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information.
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FOR UK
1. Order minimum & case sizes
We ship exclusively in full cases of wine. Your order must be a minimum of 6 bottles and in a multiple of 6 (for example 6, 12, 18 bottles).
2. Where we deliver
We deliver across Great Britain, with a small number of exceptions. Delivery is currently not available to the following locations:
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Channel Islands (GY, JE)
Please also note that some more remote areas take a little longer to reach. For the postcodes listed below, delivery may take 2–5 working days due to their location, and there is an additional £20 charge applied to these areas:
KA27, KA28, AB31–AB56, IV1–IV63, KW1–KW17, PH15–PH150, PA20–PA78, HS1–HS9, PH42–PH44, ZE1–ZE3, FK16–FK21,BT
3. Delivery timeframe
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Place your order by midday (12pm) Monday-Friday for next working-day delivery.
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Saturday delivery is available when you order by midday on Friday.
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If you order after midday, your delivery will fall on the next working day, and in some cases it may arrive sooner - but this is not guaranteed.
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Orders placed after 3pm on a Friday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.
4. Courier & delivery options
We use DPD Local for all deliveries with the default method as delivery to your address - handover required. You’ll receive text and/or an email notification to let you know your case has been shipped and another with your 1 hour delivery window, with both giving you the options to:
• leave in a safe place
• leave with a neighbour
• change the delivery day
• deliver to a different address
• deliver to a DPD Pickup ParcelShop
If you choose a safe place or a neighbour and the parcel is delivered to that place or person, responsibility passes to you from that point onwards.
5. Age verification
This site is for adults only. We operate a Challenge 25 age verification policy. When in doubt DPD will request valid photo ID on delivery to confirm you are 18 or over. Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence or other recognised photographic ID.
6. Damaged goods in transit
If your case of wine is damaged during transit, we will be notified by DPD and will reorder and dispatch a replacement for you at the earliest opportunity and keep you updated throughout.
7. Returns once delivered
If you decide you need to return your order after it has been delivered, please get in touch with us and we will arrange a collection. Returns are handled on a case-by-case basis once you contact us.
8. General provisions
By placing an order you agree to these delivery terms. We may update or amend these terms from time to time - any changes will apply to orders placed after the update.