Obviously, there was some self-promotion happening and, as students, we were a captive audience, but what Dinastía Vivanco had to offer was worth hearing. Apparently, they’re not only a winery, but also a museum of wine culture and a foundation dedicated to the research and promotion of wine. The facilities include a tasting room, a restaurant, a conference center, and a wine shop. During the discussion of Dinastía Vivanco’s wines, we saw a video that had some interesting footage from inside the museum. Apparently, the museum, which covers both Rioja and general wine culture, has the largest exhibition of corkscrews in the world.

Tasting #8 on Day 2
Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco

4 Corks
2005 Dinastía Vivanco Crianza (winery, snooth)
$17 (suggested retail)
100% Tempranillo
Medium-to-deep ruby
Cherry, strawberry, smoke, cedar, and a little bit of meat on the nose
Cherry, strawberry, cedar, and a little bit of earth and dust in the mouth
Medium-to-high tannins and acidity
Medium body
Elegant

4.5 Corks
2008 Vivanco – White Rioja (winery, snooth)
$12 (suggested retail)
80% Viura, 20% Malvasia
Pale lemon
Apple, apricot, floral, and dried rose petals with a touch of mango on the nose
Granny smith apple, nectarine, and mango, with a touch of minerals in the mouth
Crisp acidity

2004 Dinastía Vivanco Reserva (winery, snooth)
$25 (suggested retail)
90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
Medium-to-deep ruby
Black pepper, blackberries, cedar, smoke, and tobacco on the nose
Nice fruit mixed with smokey, earthiness in the mouth
Medium tannins, acidity, and body

2005 Colección Vivanco (winery, snooth)
70% Tempranillo (from Rioja Alta), 15% Graciano (from Rioja Baja), 10% Garnacha, 5% Mazulo
Deep purple with a bluish rim
Strawberry, blackberry, licorice, coffee, leather, and smoke on the nose
Plums, berries, earth, and leather in the mouth
Medium-to-high tannins, high acidity, and medium body
Very complex, with a long finish
Beautiful
Described as a “Modern Rioja”

*This is the first vintage of this wine. Each variety is one of the 4 traditional grapes from Rioja. The harvest and fermentation of each is done separately, so the blending of the wine takes place immediately before bottling.