Gran Cerdo Blanco

silky white blend from Rioja, and an excellent value to boot. The majority is Viura, with around ten other varieties making up the remaining 20% (think Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, etc.).

The result is a versatile white with lots of soft orchard fruit on the palate, like white apples and pears, with lovely texture and a dry, refreshing finish.

Dedicating the Gran Cerdo label (which translates to Big Pig in Spanish) to the bank executives who wouldn't give him a loan to start his wine business, Gonzalo Grijalba has developed a bit of a cult following. He's extremely passionate about reclaiming the biodiversity of the earth he farms, and has eschewed more commercial practices involving pesticides and herbicides for more biodynamic methods.

Origin: Rioja, Spain
Grape variety: Viura (80%), other varieties (20%)
Food pairing: Aperitif, or with tapas, white meats, seafood, or vegetarian
Bottle size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%