Wine of the Week: Viña Ardanza
This is part of a new series for paid subscribers where I look in detail about a wine or winery that I love. First up it’s Viña Ardanza from La Rioja Alta.
A Russian grand duke once purportedly said: “between the revolution and the firing squad, there is always time for a bottle of champagne.” It might sound morbid but I often think about what bottle I’d like if I was going to face the chop. I also think of how I’d like to go when the revolution comes and I get lined up against the wall with all the other bourgeoise. Definitely firing squad, much cleaner than hanging. Though I’m tempted by the guillotine just for the drama.
And what to drink before? Burgundy? Too unreliable. What if your last bottle on earth was going through a dumb phase. Bordeaux? Too tannic, I don’t think I’ll be in the mood for a big meal. Champagne, too fizzy, I don’t want to be burping when I’m preparing to meet my maker. It has to be reliably excellent, something you can savour but also quaff without too much trouble. I normally avoid the word ‘quaff’ but it’s apt here. The wine needs to be highly drinkable. The answer, for me, is Viña Ardanza from La Rioja Alta.
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