Urbina Crianza Rioja, Bodegas Urbina

Description

Urbina Crianza Rioja is a balanced and complex red Rioja produced by the small, traditional, family-owned Rioja House of Urbina Vinos.

This superb single estate is located in Cuzcurrita de Rio Tiron on the north-western boundary of DOC Rioja. Urbina has 75 hectares of vineyards at two main vineyard sites – the first site is at Cuzcurrita de Rio Turon, an area well-known for producing Riojas capable of ageing for many years ideal for Gran Reservas. The other vineyards are located at Uruñuela, in the heart of the Rioja DOC, which consistently produces wines of great quality and body. Four generations of the Urbina family had dedicated themselves to producing Rioja wines and, following in his father’s footsteps, Pedro Urbina is the current wine-maker. In 1976 the family took the decision to bottle and age all the wine made themselves, rather than selling grapes to other wine producers, and the single estate Urbina Rioja wines were created.

Bodegas Urbina produces 400,000 bottles of red Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva and 50,000 bottles of white and rosé wine, all made from grapes sourced from their own vineyards. The vineyards are cultivated using traditional methods, harvesting is by hand and there is little, or no, use of weed killers and pesticides. Additionally all fertilizer used is organic. Only local / indigenous yeasts are used in the wine-making process which help to give Urbina wines their unique personality. Most recently, there has been a large investment in modern installations, stainless steel fermentation tanks and a bottling plant.

Urbina Crianza is produced from 95% Tempranillo (from 20 year old vines) blended with 5% Graciano and Mazuelo, all harvested by hand. 12 months in American oak casks and a minimum of 6 months in bottle before release. Total production is 200,000 litres.