An Evening with Contino

If you love Rioja, you're going to love this one!

Join us for a rather special evening as we get up close and personal with Viñedos del Contino, one of Rioja's most celebrated producers and a winery that's been doing things a little differently for over 50 years.

Founded in 1973 by the legendary CVNE and the family behind the estate, Contino shook things up by becoming Rioja's first château-style winery. Rather than sourcing grapes from across the region, they decided to focus entirely on their own vineyards. A fairly radical idea at the time, but one that's helped establish Contino as one of Spain's most exciting and respected wine estates.

Tucked away in Rioja Alavesa, on a picturesque bend of the River Ebro, Contino's vineyards are a patchwork of different soils, microclimates and old vines. The result? Wines that combine everything we love about classic Rioja with a real sense of place, personality and a healthy dose of elegance.

Throughout the evening, we'll be exploring what makes Contino tick, from the influence of Rioja Alavesa's unique terroir to the wonderful differences between Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha. We'll also discover why Rioja is about so much more than the familiar Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva labels.

And the wines? Well, we've got a seriously impressive line-up planned, including some of Contino's most sought-after bottles, alongside a couple of rather lovely whites. Expect everything from fresh, vibrant fruit and silky tannins to beautifully integrated oak, savoury complexity and some seriously impressive ageing potential.

We're expecting to pour the following seven wines:

• CVNE Monopole Clásico Reserva Blanco 2021 – £31.99 RRP

• Contino San Gregorio Blanco 2022 – £29.99 RRP

• Contino Rioja Reserva 2021 – £31.99 RRP

• Contino San Rafael Garnacha 2021 – £32.99 RRP

• Contino Graciano 2020 – £62.99 RRP

• Contino Gran Reserva 2017 – £75.99 RRP

• Contino Viña del Olivo 2019 – £79.99 RRP

From the wonderfully expressive single-varietal wines to the magnificent Viña del Olivo, this is a fantastic opportunity to taste your way through some of the finest bottles Rioja has to offer.

We make a seating plan for events that are held in The Wine Library. We have both high and low seating options, some more comfy than others, so please inform us if you have any special requirements. Likewise, do tell us if you wish to be sat with someone who has booked separately, we often just have to guess!  

Tickets to our tastings are non-refundable so please double-check your diary prior to booking. If you can no longer attend, do get in touch as we often keep a cancellations list for those who missed out on tickets. Alternatively, feel free to pass them to friends or family – we only need the name of the person who booked for entry on the night.