Dinastia Vivanco Launches its First White Tempranillo Wine Blend
Rioja Winery One of Few To Include Unusual Grape Variety
Briones, Rioja, Spain, March 31, 2011. Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco will be among the very first wineries to allow wine loving consumers to enjoy the highly unusual Tempranillo Blanco, a grape that is exclusive to Rioja, as part of its 2010 vintage of Vivanco Blanco -- a white wine from Rioja made from Viura, Malvasia, and Tempranillo Blanco 2010.
Rafael Vivanco, winemaker at Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco, believes that the use of such unusual, local grape varieties will add to the individuality and personality of Rioja white wines, and has made this a focus of his research. With this initiative, Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco firmly establishes itself as one of the pioneers of the cultivation and vinification of this unique variety in Rioja.
The Tempranillo Blanco that was selected comes from a 2.1-hectare vineyard owned by the winery at the foot of the Sierra Carbonera in Tudelilla. Sitting 700 meters above sea level, this parcel is one of the highest-altitude vineyards in the DOCa Rioja region. The resulting conditions are extreme, with cold nights and large diurnal temperature variations during maturation -- which suit this variety well and result in a fresh and aromatic wine. After several years of experimentation and research, 2010 was the first vintage in which this wine was released in a blend with the Viura and Malvasia.
Tempranillo Blanco, or White Tempranillo, is a relatively unknown grape, planted in tiny quantities exclusively in Rioja. The grape itself is the result of a natural mutation of the more common 'red' Tempranillo, and was only discovered in 1988 on a vine in a vineyard in Murillo de Rio Leza. DNA analysis discovered a natural 'albinism' affecting the genes that resulted in a yellow/green skin pigmentation instead of the usual blue/purple.
Today Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco is one of the largest planters and supporters of this grape variety. Of the little over 15 hectares planted in the entire region, Dinastia Vivanco owns 2.1 hectares and has another 2.5 hectares being planted this year.
Tempranillo Blanco wines offer intense fruity aromas, with banana, green apple, citrus and floral characters. The 2010 Vivanco white wine is a blend of 70% Viura, 20% Malvasia and 10% Tempranillo Blanco, giving the wine a unique personality. The new variety will add further complexity to a wine that has already been recognized with a Silver Medal by the International Wine Challenge and as the only Rioja white wine to win a medal at the prestigious Union Española de Catadores competition, the Concurso de Vinos Jovenes Baco, winning third prize in 2008.
Dinastia Vivanco Blanco 2010 is imported by Opici Wines and is available throughout the USA. The suggested retail price is $12.99.
For samples or further information, please contact Joe Janish of Opici Wines at joe@opicwines.com.
Contact Information
For more information contact Joe Janish, Marketing Communications Manager for Opici Wines, at joe@opiciwines.com or 201.689.3256.
You can also find information about Dinastia Vivanco at the Opici Wines website: http://opiciwines.com.
About Opici Wines
Opici Wines is a sales and marketing wine company with a portfolio of 50 brands from the United States, Italy, Spain, France, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. The brands are currently in distribution across the United States in 45 states. Opici Wines is a subsidiary of the Opici Wine Group, a premier supplier and distributor of wines and spirits established in 1934. There are four distribution companies under the Opici Wine Group umbrella, located in NY, NJ, CT, and Florida called the Opici Wine Company. From its inception, the Opici Wine Group has remained family owned and operated. The company chairman is Hubert Opici, an icon in the wine industry. Headquarters are located at 25 DeBoer Drive, Glen Rock, NJ 07452. Website is http://opiciwines.com.
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