Founded in 1959, Campo Viejo is now the largest wine company in Rioja. It is the number one Spanish brand in the UK. Their Rioja is the best selling red wine in the UK. I joined the winemakers for a tasting via Zoom, as Spain currently has a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. The team at Campo Viejo are all female. They produce wine in a genuinely sustainable way. The garnacha grapes are harvested at night. Temperatures inland in Spain regularly exceed 40C during the day – so this is practical. The ‘biodynamic’ idea of nocturnal harvest at full-moon is often derided as hippy weirdness (and does smack of witchcraft) but I believe the claims that it increases yield & improves quality – and I would do it.

Tasting notes: Pale, pastel pink colour. Aromas of white flowers and green apples.. Balanced acidity. A little length to the finish. Just off-dry. A little intensity. Medium alcohol, medium body. A little complexity: red fruit and strawberry flavours.

Wine Colour – rosé
Price – £8
Where do I get it from? Tesco (widely available)
Current Vintage – 2018
Producer – Campo Viejo
Grapes – Garnacha,
Region/Country – Catalonia/Spain

Verdict – Good wine for the price

Food Pairing: Good as an aperitif, or with ‘salmorejo’ – a purée (not a gazpacho; it’s thicker, served in smaller portions and often as a dip, rather than a ‘soup’) originating from Cordoba in Andalucia, southern Spain. It is made from tomatoes, bread, oil and garlic.