2018 · Contino Reserva

Founded in 1973 as a joint venture between CVNE and the Pérez Villota and Sánchez Pérez families, Contino is regarded as Rioja’s first château. Based in Laserna in Rioja Alavesa, its wines come exclusively from a single estate surrounding an old manor house in a meander of the Ebro, with diverse soils and a distinct microclimate. The estate works with manual harvesting and plot-by-plot vinification to express the character of its micro-parcels. Sustainability is central, with ZERYA certification for pesticide-free grapes, residue-free certification, and further measures including solar energy and biodiversity initiatives. Winemaking has passed from José de Madrazo Real de Asúa to Jesús Madrazo and now Jorge Navascués.