Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosado

Fifty years ago they knew how to look beyond prejudices. There were those who claimed that rosés were not serious and not good wines, and that they should not even be thought about. However, at the Muriel winery they decided to ignore all of that chatter and began to seek out the full potential of these wines. Today, against all odds, Muriel has become one of the major rosé producers. One of the most acclaimed is Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosado.

The Muriel winery was founded in 1929 in El Ciego, a municipality in La Rioja Alavesa. It is true that rosé wines are not the most common in this land of reds; nevertheless, this corner of the D.O. Ca Rioja (in the south of the province of Alava), also has a significant production of rosé wines with distinctive characteristics, like their pale colours, fruity aromas and freshness on the palate.

The Tempranillo and Garnacha blend masterfully in Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosé, achieving one of the most highly thought of wines in La Rioja. This winemaking process is the result of years of research and improvement, where Muriel’s winemakers have been working on the development of the most innovative winemaking methods, always respecting quality. When it comes to Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosado, this process begins in September with the harvest (obviously) and involves the direct pressing of the red grapes. The must ferments in stainless steel tanks for 12 days at a controlled temperature. After this time, and with the yeasts out of play, Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosado spends a month in this same container in contact with its lees.

With this last step, which will provide volume and roundness on the palate, Muriel makes sure to tame the acidity of the Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes, grown in a continental Mediterranean climate with a strong Atlantic influence. This means cold winters with frequent snowfalls and hot, dry summers (with temperatures exceeding 35°C). Likewise, the great temperature contrast between day and night ensures the grapes ripen properly. So, now you know. If you are one of those people who are not put off by comments and you do what you want without caring (or bothering anyone), Muriel Finca de la Villa Rosado is the perfect wine for you.