Marqués de Cáceres’ Los Altares 2016 Named Spain’s Best White Wine of 2026
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Food honours this DOCa Rioja Gran Reserva white wine at the 2026 Food of Spain Best Wines Awards
Los Altares 2016, produced by Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres, has been named Best White Wine at the 2026 Alimentos de España Mejores Vinos Awards, presented by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, and Food.
Officially published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado), the accolade recognises Los Altares 2016 as the country’s best white wine in this year’s competition. It also acknowledges Marqués de Cáceres’ ability to offer a contemporary interpretation of Rioja’s heritage of outstanding age-worthy white wines.
Produced from old-vine Viura and other minority white grape varieties grown in high-altitude vineyards, Los Altares comes from small plots characterised by clay-limestone soils with frequent limestone veins. The grapes are hand-harvested into crates following a meticulous selection of the finest low-yielding parcels—the essence of this exceptional wine.
After whole-bunch pressing, the must is fermented in new French oak barrels, where each individual parcel remains for between 10 and 12 months. The wine then undergoes a further four months of refinement in concrete vats, followed by extended bottle ageing, which provides the final touch of elegance.
This exceptional age-worthy white wine faithfully expresses the authenticity and distinctive character of Rioja, combining depth, freshness and structure with an extraordinary wealth of nuances.
The nose displays remarkable aromatic intensity and complexity, with notes of honey, stone fruit—particularly mirabelle plum and apricot—together with hints of aniseed, dried flowers and a subtle background of fine oak. On the palate, it is full and fresh, with beautifully balanced acidity and a long, flavoursome finish in which honeyed notes blend seamlessly with the oak’s delicate toasted character.
In addition to the quality of the wine, the Ministry highlighted the winery’s excellence, its international presence in more than 140 countries, its commitment to winemaking innovation and its dedication to sustainability.
This accolade consolidates Los Altares’ position as one of the most distinctive wines in the Marqués de Cáceres portfolio and confirms the potential of Rioja’s finest white wines to compete among Spain’s most prestigious age-worthy wines.
