Introduction:
Villota is the estate project of Carmen Pérez-Garrigues and her father Ricardo Pérez-Villota, fourth and third generation growers on the historic Finca San Rafael in Laserna, Laguardia. The family co-founded Viñedos del Contino — Rioja's first single-estate winery —  in 1973, and after four decades reclaimed their land in 2013 to launch the Villota label. The Selvanevada Blanco is a low-intervention field blend drawn entirely from that estate, reflecting over 90 years of vine history on one of Rioja Alavesa's most distinctive river-bend plots.

Terroir:
The Finca San Rafael Vineyard occupies three terraces sloping gently toward a meander of the Ebro River in Rioja Alavesa — the cooler, higher-elevation sub-zone of Rioja. The soils are calcareous clay studded with large stones and pebbles, driving minerality and natural acidity while forcing the dry-farmed vines to dig deep. A continental Mediterranean climate moderated by Atlantic influence from the Sierra de Cantabria keeps average temperatures around 57°F, preserving the freshness and precision that define the wine.

Tasting notes:
The 2024 Villota “Selvanevada” Rioja Blanco has aromas of nectarines, green apples, and white peaches, with delicate floral notes and a distinct undercurrent of minerality. The medium-bodied palate has flavors of lemon peel, white peaches, and pineapples laced with honeysuckle and wet stone. The finish is long clean, and mouthwateringly juicy, with lingering notes of stone and citrus fruits. 

Press:
92 points, Jeb Dunnuck:
"Newly released, the 2024 Selvanevada Blanco blends 91% Viura, 6% Tempranillo Blanco, and 3% Garnacha Blanca, some from older vines grown on the family estate. Most of the whites are fermented in stainless steel, with the exception of the Viura, which gets five months in French oak barrel on the lees. Together, it’s quite refined and creamy in texture, crisply fruity, and easy to drink. Drink now and for the next 10-12 years."

91 points, Vinous:
"Barrel-aged on the lees, it opens on the nose with white fruit and a slight tropical edge, together with pear and a subtle note of élevage. On the palate, it is creamy at the onset, with light grip and a fresh finish touched by oak."

91 points, James Suckling:
"An elegant nose with a touch of wet stones to the light cream, nectarines and green apples. Fresh but not demanding with subtle phenolics and a textured, medium-long finish."

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Roasted chicken with herb butter, grilled sea bass, or jamón ibérico with crusty bread
🥦 Vegetarian: Saffron rice, herb-roasted white asparagus, or a Basque-style vegetable pisto
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Manchego, mild Idiazabal, Marcona almonds, quince paste, and mild cured chorizo

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 13.5
Farming Practices: Traditional dry-farmed manual viticulture; no systemic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, or fertilizers; vines trained en vaso (goblet/head-trained); estate-grown fruit from Finca San Rafael; vines planted 1930–1990
Producer Name: Villota (Viñas del Lentisco – Villota / Carmen Pérez-Garrigues & Ricardo Pérez-Villota)
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: Rioja Alavesa, D.O.Ca. Rioja — Laserna, Laguardia, Álava
Grape Varietals: Viura 91%, Tempranillo Blanco 6%, Garnacha Blanca, 3% 
Vintage: 2024
Wine Style: Dry White — Medium-bodied and textured, with a mineral-driven white Rioja profile rooted in old-vine calcareous clay terroir. More complex and site-expressive than most Rioja Blancos; built for the table with genuine depth and enough structure for short-term cellaring. 
Winemaking Techniques: Hand-harvested; destemmed and sorted; gently pressed; cold settled; fermented in stainless steel; no malolactic fermentation; Viura aged 6 months sur lie in 225L and 500L French oak barrels; Tempranillo Blanco and Garnacha Blanca aged in stainless steel
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style:Verify on bottle