Rioja Wine

The Rioja region of Spain produces one of the world’s finest, and most long lived wines: Rioja. Rioja's renaissance, in the latter half of the 19th century, was a direct result of the phyloxera bug that decimated vineyards around the globe. While English merchants came to Rioja to replace their French imports, the wines here actually have much more in common with Chianti. Both wines are blend relying heavily on one grape, in this case Tempranillo. Like Chianti’s Sangiovese, Tempranillo usually produces a relatively high acid wine of medium to medium-full body. Tempranillo tends to produce wines with a dusty, leathery edge to their raspberry and blackberry fruit tones. With additions of Graciano, Mazuela and Grancha the wines of Rioja can take on additional layers of flavor and aroma but the tradition of extended oak aging for Rioja's great wines contributes an even more obvious imprint. While the Spaniards have traditionally been a fan of the strong vanilla and coconut component that American oak Read more »

Mentor for Rioja Wines

Richard Jennings

Wine writer (and HR exec). I write a weekly column for Huffington Post, and my blog is http://www.RJonWine.com. I have over 34,000 tasting notes on CellarTracker, where I'm the most "favorited" TN author.

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Popular wines made in Rioja under $20

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Varietals Produced in Rioja View all

  • Cabernet Sauvignon

    “King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...

  • Grenache

    You’re a member of the ‘Rhône Ranger’ band. Your groupies think you’re ‘hot’, even when you're boozy and "strung out"...

  • Torrontes

    Torrontes is really three closely related grape varieties -- Torrontés Riojano, the most common, Torrontés Sanjuanino...

  • Macabeo

    Macabeo is Spain’s most widely planted grape. From there, it has made its way to southern France’s Roussillon region,...

  • Graciano

    Though it is easily the most interesting and unique red grape in Rioja, its yields are low, it is prone to downy mild...

  • Tempranillo

    History of the grape: Origins of Tempranillo are murky. It could be indigenous to the Spanish countryside, or it coul...

Subregions of Rioja

Popular Wineries in Rioja View all

  • Bodegas Marques de Caceres

    The name of this wine. Marques de Caceres was lent by D. Vicente Noguera y Espinosa de los Monter...

  • Bodegas Baigorri

    "Bodegas Baigorri bases its work on a value of duality and on the xcellence of its products and ...

  • Viña Valoria

    It is an old wine cellar, whose background dates from 1860, that decided to expand and modify its...

  • Bodegas Palacios Remondo

    Palacios focused his efforts on the Crianza, La Montesa, a Garnacha-based blend from south-faci...

  • Bodegas Primicia

    Casa Primicia, the oldest building in the town of Laguardia, is the place where, from the 15th ce...

  • Bodegas Sierra Cantabria

    The Eguren family, generation after generation since 1870, have been dedicated to grape growing a...

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Rioja on Snooth

  • Guys anyone had a 2000 Murrieta Castillo y Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva ? If you love Rioja wines this is a sensual seductress that you do not want to pass up - she is as intoxicating as she is enchanting - with the first sip she will entice you in a world of pleasure and passion that will leave you wanting for another last kiss.... ;P http://sho...

    Comment by 255446neale1 255446 neale1


  • I'm interested to know, too! I have some CB and Vouvray that are on the ... ... Portal Colheita. 2) Rioja reserva - 2005 Marques de Caceres3) A Rioja crianza - 2008 Dinastia Vivanco All to be followed by chocolate cake and a couple of ports I still have around. I swear, discovering the port+chocolate combo has changed my life! Read More

    Forum post in the topic Whatcha drinking tonight-...


  • Bodegas Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo Rioja Rioja Gran Reserva 2004

    Snoothrank:

    Nice dark purple color. Aromas range from resiny, to pruny, to something like anise. Very pleasing initial palate. There is some fruit here--blackberry as much as anything--but it doesn't take over. Some dusty earthiness. Nice acid tartness. Firm supporting tannin. US$19.99 at Costco last summer. Read More

    Wine review by EMark


  • Bodegas Olarra Tempranillo Blend Rioja Cerro Anon Reserva 2005

    Snoothrank:

    This wine has a lovely bright ruby color, with limited opacity. The nose is ...-rioja-reserva.htm Read More

    Wine review by jtryka


  • Faustino Rivero Ulecia Black Label Reserva 2005

    Snoothrank:

    Great wine Read More

    Wine review by pimachterberg


  • Bodegas Lan Rioja Culmen Reserva 2004

    Snoothrank:

    Big wine which takes time to open. Very powerful. Read More

    Wine review by Amyiachan


  • Campo Viejo Tempranillo Blend Rioja Crianza 2006

    Snoothrank:

    Good balance of fruit consisting of cherries, black plums, and blackberries. Oak flavors of clove, pepper and vanilla mix in with the fruit. This wine is smooth and balanced with a full long finish. Read More

    Wine review by 1230782Welkja 1230782 Welkja


  • Loca Linda Torrontés 2010

    Snoothrank:

    An drinkable liter from La Rioja, with a bit of butterscotch hiding behind an otherwise tart wine. The bouquet is a little faint, but some sloshing will reveal some lychee or rambutan. Definitely best chilled. (AV 85, http://argovino.com/?p=820) Read More

    Wine review by Argovino


  • Montebuena Tempranillo Rioja 2010

    Snoothrank:

    No written review

    Wine review by mostlyred68


  • Bodegas El Coto Tempranillo Rioja Crianza 2010

    Snoothrank:

    No written review

    Wine review by lattasar


  • El Coto de Crianza 2006

    Snoothrank:

    No written review

    Wine review by alanb1108


  • I spent over 20 years travelling throughout all of Spain. Their wines are tremendous and, not to mention, their people, their rich culture, their unbelievable foods. I am presently trying to locate a Distributors in the USA who would be able to send me ETXEKO PATXARANA DESTILERIAS VIANA, S.A. I am also trying to obtain a vintage chart coveri...

    Comment by 925520ABIERTO 925520 ABIERTO


  • why i can't find rioja olagosa reserva 2005 in Marbella whole sale

    Comment by 740029a a n 740029 a a n


  • Hi!, Best regards from Spain. I like overall Rioja Luis Cañas. Its taste really good. Taste it friends!.

    Comment by 460403ivanvi 460403 ivanvi


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