Rioja whites are experiencing an excellent moment, a true new “golden age” reflected in a clearly rising demand. Among them, we have a soft spot for Muga Blanco 2025, a creation from one of the historic wineries in the Barrio de la Estación in Haro and one of the few Spanish wineries with its own cooperage. At Muga, wood is essential: oak is the only material the family uses for both fermentation and aging of their wines.
Muga Blanco 2025 is an original blend of viura (the leading grape of Rioja whites), garnacha blanca, and malvasía from Rioja. The grapes primarily come from two different valleys, both located in the Rioja Alta subzone with an Atlantic climate. In the Oja Valley, the soils are clay-limestone, contributing structure and freshness to the wine. In the upper area of the Najerilla Valley, the soils are ferruginous clay, enhancing the complexity and minerality of the wine.
Manual harvest. After a light maceration of the skins with the must in the press, fermentation took place in wooden vats of different volumes and new French oak Nevers barrels with a very light toast. Once fermentation was complete, it remained in the barrels for 4 months, with 'battonages' carried out to keep the fine lees in contact with the wine, protecting it from oxygen and adding smoothness on the palate and complexity.
Muga (1932) is one of the most solid and iconic wineries in Rioja. From the Barrio de la Estación in Haro, the latest generation of an illustrious family lineage continues to produce a range of wines that stand out for their quality, the result of meticulous work both in the vineyard and the winery, and the careful selection of oak barrels sourced from the best European and American forests. Additionally, it is one of the very few Spanish wineries that has its own cooperage to craft its own barrels.
Muga Blanco 2025 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is perfect to pair with white fish, seafood, and seafood rice dishes.
Serving temperature
The 2025 vintage presents a pale, bright straw yellow color.
On the nose, it offers medium intensity, with notes of white flowers and stone fruit, accompanied by subtle citrus nuances and a delicate spicy background derived from barrel fermentation.
On the palate, it shows a lively and well-defined acidity, balanced with the volume and texture provided by the lees. The finish is long and fresh, with citrus, stone fruit, and a slight saline sensation that extends the persistence.
Bodegas Muga is one of the most reliable and recognizable names in Rioja, founded in 1932 by the family that gives it its name: the Muga family, now led by the third generation. Its history began in a modest winery located on a central street in Haro, but in 1970, it inaugurated new facilities in the famous Barrio de la Estación in the same town. Muga is characterized by its commitment to traditional winemaking: gravity racking, egg white fining, and all red wines are made, fermented, and aged in oak (there is no stainless steel in the winery). It is also one of the few Spanish wineries with its own cooperage. However, in the vineyard, it embraces modern technology, monitoring the plants.
It is also distinguished by its mastery of aging, especially long aging, as its red wines exceed the aging times stipulated by the Regulatory Council of the D.O.Ca. Rioja. Its portfolio is divided into two lines: a more classic line with the Muga and Prado Enea range, and a more modern one with Torre Muga and the ‘top’ Aro. These are joined by the new Flor de Muga label, available in white and rosé versions. All of these wines have elegance in their DNA, with outstanding acceptance.
It boasts exceptional vineyards of tempranillo, garnacha, graciano, and mazuelo, located in the valleys of the Oja and Tirón rivers. In these lands, soil and climate come together to offer exceptional conditions for the vine, something the Muga family takes full advantage of to craft their renowned wines.
