Wine of the Week 2/16/21

La Riojana Co-op Torrontes Riojano 2019

Regularly 12.99/On Sale for $9.96

La Riojana is a large Co-op of over 500 small farms in La Rioja, northern Argentina, founded in 1940. The Co-op is a model of collective organization, arranged around Fairtrade principles, with each of its over 500 farms receiving an equal say in the direction of the winery, and how Fairtrade funds are folded back into the community. They also make some extremely tasty wines.

Torrontes is particular to Argentina (there is an unrelated Spanish grape with the same name) and is a crossing of Muscat de Alexandria (hence it’s trademark aromatics) and Criola Chica, also known as Mision in Mexico and California. (Many of our customers will also know this grape as the Chilean País.) What this red grape parentage brings to this white wine is not clear, but, like Criola, Torrontes is a terrific food wine, with structure that surprises given its delicate floral nose. The La Riojana Torrontes is grown organically, in vineyards with free-roaming sheep that contribute both fertilizing and weed-eating to the prcess

La Riojana’s team of seven winemakers is led by Dr. Rodolfo Griguol, who has not only worked with the winery since 1984, but grew up on the cooperative as his father was one of the original members, becoming general manager in 1940. Many of the La Riojana families can trace their involvement back to the founding.

We’re fans of Torrontes generally, but this one really took us by surprise, particularly at the price! While most of the wines in our store are from small, family producers, we really encourage you to take a chance on this singular co-op, and get familiar with Argentina’s great, fresh, floral contribution to the world of wine. It’s quite a deal!