Montecillo's roots lie in Fuenmayor, one of the towns with the longest winemaking traditions in the Rioja Alta. Surrounded by vines and close to the waters of the serene and gentle Ebro River, Fuenmayor's surroundings are nestled between flat hills, with the distinctive rocky masses of the Cantabrian Mountains visible in the distance. The expertise and unique traditions of this winery are passed down from father to son, and have been so for 140 years. Montecillo literally translates as "little hill," a tribute to Montecillo's original terroirs, which to this day lie on small, sunny hills in the Rioja Alta.
The Viura comes from vines over 60 years old, located at an altitude of over 600 meters in the Rioja Alta. The Tempranillo Blanco is grown on clayier soils, and the Sauvignon Blanc comes from plots in the coolest, easternmost part of the DO at an altitude of over 700 meters. All grape varieties are hand-harvested at peak ripeness. Each variety is vinified completely independently. The grapes are destemmed and gently pressed. This is followed by a long maceration at low temperatures in contact with the skins to extract all the primary aromas. The wine is then aged in oak barrels. After aging in these barrels in the Montecillo cellars, this white Rioja is aged on the lees for another three months, giving it a full-bodied and very powerful wine. The aroma is dominated by citrus fruit and freshly baked bread. The palate is full and rounded with a touch of freshness as a backbone. A wine with a long finish.
