($8, Vineyard Brands): Yes, you read it correctly–a white wine from Rioja, Spain’s most recognized region for red wine.  There’s a long tradition of making white wine in Rioja, but the local preference for a heavy slightly oxidized style made them impossible to sell in the United States.  Hence, they were rarely seen.  But as with so much about Spanish wines, things have changed and so has white Rioja. This one is fresh and lively, not ponderous.  It has a subtle lanolin-like texture that makes it even more appealing.  A marvelous buy. 88 Michael Apstein Oct 13, 2009