Viura (AKA Macabeo)
TL; DR
A grassy, lightly nutty Spanish white that has a great capacity for ageing.
Who's famous for it?--racy
Spain is unquestionably Viura's homeland! In fact, it is the most widely planted white varietal in the famous region of Rioja. And boy, has it built a reputation here; making oaked, age-worthy and complex wines. It is also widely grown in the Penedès region of Catalunya in Spain. Here it is one of the main three local grapes used to make the sparkling wine, Cava!
Thanks to its love of the warm sun, its success has stretched across the border into Southern France too, most notably the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Here it's known as "Maccabeu" — quite a few aliases this grape has — and since it's a relatively neutral grape, it is most often used to make fresh white blends with other local varieties.
What does it taste like?--aromatic
Viura consistently produces a grassy, slightly nutty white that has a great capacity for ageing. You'll also notice herby notes like chervil, and nuttiness of almond and hazelnut.
The best wines age well and take on a salted honey character as they age, with either upfront fruitiness or salty savouriness seeming to be the order of the day. The younger, simple wines show off more melon and lime, but the more serious examples often have a gloss of oak and are nuttier even still, with more capacity for ageing.
Main styles it's known for?--cellar
With Viura, you're either going to experience a youthful expression that's rather neutral with citrus, grass and melon notes, or something much richer and textural. rich, salty savoury expression with power and weight. The examples with more weight are often more serious examples and typically have a gloss of oak and are nuttier, with more capacity for ageing.
What foods should you be pairing it with?--plum
The younger, fresher styles are great with herbaceous, punchy flavours like Korean and Vietnamese food, where the acidity can shine. The more mature examples can handle roast meats, grilled chicken and pork, and herby soups and stews that most other whites typically would shy away from.
Fun fact--earth
Rioja's red wines (based on Tempranillo) have traditionally allowed a portion of white wine to be used in red winemaking. Since Viura is the most planted white grape in this region, it has been a go-to choice to add to the blend!