A high percentage of Tempranillo fruit (90%) is the hallmark of the Viña Real style. Complex, rich and sophisticated, the vanilla from the oak is beautifully integrated into the raspberry fruit.

Deep ruby and cherry red in colour. Good intensity on the nose with ripe autumn fruits, warm spices and elegant toasty oak. The palate is rich, warming and velvety with good acidity and fine tannins. The vanilla from the oak is well integrated with the raspberry fruit of the Tempranillo producing a fine, rich complex palate and a long finish.

This vintage has been characterized by a delay in the evolution of the cycle being the most delayed one in the century. It was a vintage conditioned by an atypical climatology (very rainy throughout the cycle and cold spring). The harvest begins in Viña Real on October 7 with a previous selection of vineyard and with pleasant temperatures during October which predicts good evolution of those vineyards most punished by adverse climatology. The harvest ends on October 28 with good expectations for the wines of this harvest, highlighting a higher acidity and freshness.

The grapes, which are mainly grown in the Rioja Alavesa sub-region are carefully handpicked when fully ripe and only the healthiest bunches are selected. On arrival at the winery, the grapes are cooled and macerated prior to the alcoholic fermentation which is carried out in stainless steel at a carefully controlled temperature. The length of time that the fermenting juice is kept in contact with the skins is determined by daily tasting and analysis until the desired levels of colour and structure are reached. The young wine is then transferred to a mix of American and French oak casks to mature for up to two years before being bottled. Once bottled the wine will remain in cellars for a minimum of 18 months to continue its maturation prior to release to the market.

C.V.N.E., or to give it its full name, Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company) was established on the 24th of March 1879 in Haro, Rioja. Set up by two brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa, their aim was to capitalise on the flourishing new trade in wine.

C.V.N.E. is based in Haro's traditional neighbourhood of the train station, in the heart of the Rioja wine region. Historically, some of the oldest wineries of Rioja Alta established themselves here in order to benefit from the ease of transport via rail to the port of Bilbao, the most efficient form of transport in those days.

By 1900, the winery had an extraordinary ageing capacity of 80,000 bottles, which was most unusual at the time, as most wineries sold their wines as soon as possible.

C.V.N.E. is still controlled by the direct descendants of the founding family. Now in its fifth generation, the company has been quoted on the Madrid stock exchange since 1997.

C.V.N.E. farms half of its grape crush. The remainder is purchased from long term growers. With three wineries in the region; Cune, Viña Real and Contino the winemakers have control over quality from vineyard to bottle.