'Las Levantadas' Rioja Blanco 2024

Can you imagine a medieval hilltop town with no cars, just narrow cobblestone streets and 230 wine caves carved into the rock beneath people's houses?! It's not the Game of Thrones of wine, it's Laguardia! Where this wine comes from! Javier San Pedro Ortega is making contemporary white Rioja in a place that feels like it hasn't changed in a thousand years. And we love it because it distances itself from the overly-oaked style that was guiding Rioja in the past, and it's more fresh, more electric, just more special.

'Las Levantadas' is a blend of Viura, Tempranillo Blanco, and Malvasía. Fermented in stainless, then left on its lees for twelve months because time and contact with those lees creates a gorgeous texture on the palate. Peak summer peaches, white flowers in the meadow, orchard fruit, and with that texture that sneaks up on you: salted, cured lemons, a little flinty snap, a touch of salt.

This would go beautifully with a little lemony pasta and tons of cracked black pepper.