2002 R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia ‘Viña Gravonia’

Note the vintage: 2002 is the latest release of white Rioja from the legendary house of R. Lopez de Heredia, founded 135 years ago and still one of the benchmark estates in Rioja. If you’ve never tasted a white Rioja before, this is the one to try first. The color is golden straw, with a scent of hazelnut drifting over the glass. Dry, but with rich complexities, Viña Gravonia is unique in the world of white wine, a compelling expression of the Viura grape.

Drink it with lobster, Dungeness crab, steamed mussels and clams, even a roast turkey.

Region: La Rioja, Spain

Price: $25 to $30

Style: Elegant and complex

What it goes with: Lobster, crab, shellfish, roast poultry

Where to find it: Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, https://www.hitimewine.net; K&L; Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, https://www.klwines.com; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463, https://www.missionwines.com; Wally’s Wine & Spirits in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606, https://www.wallywine.com; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, https://www.winex.com; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, https://www.whwc.com.

irene.virbila@latimes.com