Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo

It’s the third biggest selling wine in the UK, the number one selling red and one of the leading Spanish wine producers globally with around 2 million cases shipped every year. Wow! Whatever Campo Viejo (that’s “KAHM-poh VYAY-hoh“) is doing to their grapes back there at their estate in La Rioja, they’re on the money!

Rioja in north-east Spain is one of the world’s famous wine growing regions. Tempranillo (tem-prah-nee-yoh) is the signature grape in these parts and this wine is made entirely with this pure fruit driven, soft, velvety and gloriously gluggable grape. After four months in oak they chuck it in their vast cellars for another eight months to age in the bottle.

When we say vast cellars we ain’t kidding. Head along to the Campo Viejo winery and you’ll see vineyards and countryside with a back drop of mountains…plus a couple of small buildings. Wait. Aren’t these guys one of the world’s top Spanish wine producers? Where’s the juice at? It’s underground!

Yep, in 2001 Campo Viejo asked a top Spanish architect to redesign their winery. The guy decided the view was far too good to touch so he designed the 45,000 metre squared winery to be built underground!

Pair this Spanish superstar with grilled chicken, pasta and those lighter, fresher style cheeses.