La Rioja Alta is best known for their flagship wine ‘Viña Ardanza’, which was created in 1940 (the winery itself has been in business since 1890.) One of the unique characteristics of ‘Viña Ardanza’ is the amount of Garnacha that goes into the wine, roughly 20% of the blend each year. The Garnacha comes from estate vineyards in Rioja Oriental, a subzone known for having the perfect conditions to grow this variety. This unique blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha was able to really shine in 2016, with Tempranillo providing a firm backbone of silky tannins and refreshing acidity, and Garnacha adding intense aromatics and a ripe, fresh profile. 2016 was a spectacular vintage for Rioja, with many calling it one of the best of recent memory, on par with other esteemed years like 2010 and 2004.