Rioja is Spain’s largest and most well-known wine producing region. Located in northern Spain, across the provinces of La Rioja, the Basque country and Navarra spanning over 75 miles from northwest to southeast, the region boasts over 65,000 hectares of vineyards.  

It was also the first region in Spain to be granted the quality status of Denominación de Origen back in 1925, and further earn the special status of Denominación de Origen Calificada in 1991. 

The region produces some of the world’s most diverse and arguably some of the most interesting wines, ranging from spicy, young and mature reds to rich and oaky whites, and even rosé wines known as rosados.

Just a 90 minute drive from Bilbao, you can find yourself in the heart of the region in the towns of Haro or Logroño. Great places to enjoy local atmosphere, food and course of wines!  

The region is characterised by the Ebro River which runs east to west and is often described as being part Atlantic with the oceanic influence coming across from the coast on the west making it cooler and wetter, and part Mediterranean with inland influence giving more sunshine and drier conditions.  

The Cantabrian mountains also play an important role in the climate of the region as they shelter the region from bad weather, blocking rain from crossing.  

No, Rioja is divided into three key geographical zones, each with their own unique characters which they bring to the wines.  

These are: 

• Rioja Alta 

• Rioja Alavesa  

• Rioja Oriental   

Although individual producers vary and may blend across regions, some wineries produce wines distinctive to a certain zone.  

Rioja Alta is the most westerly zone, located close to the town of Haro. Altitude and climate produce elegant wines with great ageing potential.

Neighbouring zone Rioja Alavesa, is situated north of the Ebro river and wines are influenced by the region's limestone plateau, complex soils and small plots.

Rioja Oriental is the most easterly zone. The climate is more Mediterranean making wines which are often characterised by their generosity, higher alcohol and fuller body. More Garnacha is planted here. Velvety with intense black fruits, dark chocolate and meaty spices.

Altogether Rioja is home to nearly 600 wineries, with over a third open to the public, making it a great region to visit and producing a diverse offering of wines.  

With more than 14,000 growers, viticulture has been within families for generations in some cases, creating a mosaic of small individual plots which demand work and attention.  

Soil types are varied adding to the region’s diversity, ranging from clay, limestone and alluvial pebbles.  

Oak can play an important part of Rioja wines’ flavours and styles. Producers can choose older or newer barrels, and most commonly select between American oak, which is the more traditional choice and brings coconut and sweet spice flavours to the wine or French oak bringing brioche and vanilla.  

Denomination of origin or DOCa certified Rioja wines can be aged in oak barrels and in bottle under regulatory rules of the ‘Consejo Regulador’. Certified wines have a special stamp label which you can find on the back of the bottle. You may even have heard of these classifications. 

These classifications offer different styles, spending different lengths of time in oak, offering young and mature wines with great appeal.  With time in barrel and bottle, wines develop complex and interesting flavours such as spice, leather and clove.  

• Generico: joven translates as ‘young’. These are wines with no oak ageing and so are the freshest and most fruit-forward styles 

• Crianza: red wines spend a minimum of 12 months ageing in oak, and a further minimum of six in bottle. Whites and rosé wines a little shorter with six months. Crianza wines are more structured with more pronounced flavours from the oak of vanilla, toast and spice 

• Reserva: these wines must have one year in oak, and a further two in bottle before being released. They can vary in maturity and style, often showing ripe, baked fruits, damson, and vanilla  

• Gran Reserva: these are the wines which are aged the longest, both in barrel and bottle, with a minimum of two years in barrel and three in bottle. They develop tertiary aromas of clove, leather, dried fruits and herbs. Whites and rosé wines again require less ageing with a total of four years, with six months in barrel

Tempranillo is the king grape in Rioja, accounting for over 75%.  An early ripening grape, as ‘temprano’ means early in Spanish, Tempranillo gives red cherry and plum aromas and a hint of spice to wines. 

Second behind Tempranillo comes Garnacha (Grenache in France) with a very profile of red fruits with a full, round palate. Some producers are championing these indigenous, lesser-known varietals, so you may often find other grapes such a Mazuelo (Carignan in France), Graciano or other rare indigenous grapes such as Maturana Tinta.