Rioja Wine

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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 barrels have contributed to Rioja, more and more producers have turned to French oak favoring it's more subtle spice tones. Rioja continues to undergo extended aging in Barrel with Reserva and Gran Reserva bottlings, representing a producer highest achievement, spending a minimum of 3, or 5 years respectively in the producer's cellar. A brief breakdown of the styles of rioja. Joven - These are young fruity wines full of red berry fruits and best in their youth. Served with a slight chill they make excellent reds for warm weather. Crianza - These are wines that see at least 6 months aging in oak barrels allowing them to soften a touch and pick up subtle vanilla and spice notes while preserving most of their youthful fruit. these are wines that can benefit from a year or two in the cellar but are accessible on release. Roble - Wines labeled Roble, Oak in Spanish, are wines that have seen some period of oak aging, frequently less than what is required to achieve Crianza status, yet offer the obvious effects of barrel aging, frequently more pronounced than with a Crianza. Reserva - These are wines that have seen at least 12 months in oak barrels, plus an additional two in the cellar before release. this additional time, and the fact that producer use better wines for these, means that Reservas are both richer and silkier than Crianza's with emerging notes of tobacco, soil and spice that comes with aging. Gran Reserva - the highest classification in Rioja, Gran Reserva wines are kept in barrel for at least 24 months and an additional 3 years in the cellar. these wines can be opulent and flamboyant with amazing depth of flavor that combines the remains fo the raspberry and strawberry fruit of Tempranillo plus spice tones and vanilla from the oak plus the added layer and dimension of oxidative tones that add subtle notes of leather, preserved meats and nuts to the wine. These are silky, long, elegant wines that stand head to head with the worlds finest. – Description from Gregory Dal Piaz (hide)

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Spanish Wines in the Shadows

Navarra may sound like a dusty desert town in an old Western movie but in reality it’s a little known wine region that’s been overshadowed by Rioja, its illustrious neighbour in northern Spain, for years. The region is renowned for its roses (Rosado) b...

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Mentor for Rioja Wines

Richard Jennings

Wine writer (and HR exec). I write a weekly column for Huffington Post, wine book reviews for NY Journal of Books, and my blog is http://www.RJonWine.com. I have over 38,000 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

Tempranillo

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

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

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

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

History of the grape: Some believe Malbec is named after a Hungarian peasant who spread plantings along the French co...
Macabeo

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

Subregions of Rioja

Popular Wineries in Rioja View all

Bodegas Baigorri

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

Bodegas Ondarre, founded in 1986, belongs to the Bodegas Olarra Group, one of the most famous nam...
Marqués de Riscal

Wines of the Herederos de Marqués de Riscal has always been a leading and pioneering company i...
Viña Ijalba

Built in 1991, with a modernist style, it is provided with the best existing technology in the ma...
Bodegas Palacios Remondo

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

At this particular moment, Mario Rotllant and Carmen Daurella came to La Rioja, with the passiona...

People getting updates on Rioja Wines

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Rioja on Snooth

February 2009

Bodegas Bilbaínas Vicuana 2003

Snoothrank:

Gorgeous dark garnet in color, this Rioja is a bit thin across the palette; however, it is very tastey, lively and fresh - pomegranate, cameo apple, blackberry. Light tannins. Read More

Wine review by anneliese
February 2009

Viña Villabuena Rioja Viña Izadi Reserva 2001

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by monikamcd
February 2009

Martín Códax Tempranillo Rioja Ergo 2005

Snoothrank:

Lots of fruit up front but finishes less sweet. It didn't really show as a sipping wine but was a dead on match for hot dogs. I suspect it will go nicely with sausage or cured meats. Read More

Wine review by JamesR
February 2009

Sonsierra Joven Rioja 2006

Snoothrank:

Acentone on the nose, doesnt bode well, but for a wine this cheap its fairly drinkable - simple, fruity, light and easy drinking. There's some earth on the finish, and while its a little hot, licoricey, and tart its ok. Again, fine for the price. Read More

Wine review by 1Philip James 1
February 2009

Viña Villabuena Rioja Viña Izadi Expresión 2000

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by sveinove
February 2009

Marqués de Cáceres Tempranillo Blend Rioja Reserva 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by nihaar
February 2009

Marqués de Cáceres Tempranillo Blend Rioja Crianza 2002

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by nihaar
February 2009

Bodegas Berberana Rioja Reserva 2004

Snoothrank:

Not bad. Very faint sweetness gives way ever so quickly to a peppery spice which lingers long before a warm almost buttery taste finishes it off. Its not one I will be buying again but its fair for what it is. Read More

Wine review by colinrchorley
January 2009

Orobio Tinto 2005

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by squalene
January 2009

Marqués de Cáceres Tempranillo Blend Rioja Reserva 2001

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by Dawnmichelle