Álvaro Loza Con.tacto Pieles 2024

Álvaro Loza, born in La Rioja but having travelled all over the world, returned to his home region to launch his personal project in 2019.

Con.tacto is the brand name for its white wines, which are smooth, lively and true to their origins.

This Pieles ("Skins") is made from Viura grapes grown on two organically farmed plots in Elciego, planted 35 years ago. In fact, these are Tempranillo vineyards which, at their highest point on the hillside, are planted with Viura vines. The soils are silty clay with plenty of boulders and sand on the surface.

The grapes are harvested by hand, and the whole bunches are placed in tanks for a slow, prolonged fermentation lasting 34 days. After pressing, the wine matures in 225- and 350-litre barrels on its lees without being stirred. Twelve months later, the wine is bottled with a minimal dose of sulphur dioxide to preserve it.

1,669 bottles of this light Rioja orange wine with an alcohol content of just 12.5%!