Rioja wine

Rioja wines are split into four classification levels – Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Each classification refers to the wine’s total ageing period, including time spent maturing in oak barrels and the bottle. These are minimum requirements, however, and many winemakers age their wines for longer.

• Joven: Directly translating to “young”, these wines are meant to be enjoyed while they retain their fresh and fruity character. Joven wines aren’t typically aged in oak barrels but may spend a year or two in the bottle.
• Crianza: This refers to Rioja red wines that have been aged for a total of three years – including a minimum of one year in oak barrels. White and rosé Crianza wines only need to age for a minimum of six months in oak barrels.
• Reserva: These high-quality red wines are aged for at least three years, split between a minimum of one year in oak barrels and at least six months in bottles. White and rosé Reserva wines undergo a two-year ageing cycle, with a mandatory six months in oak barrels.
• Gran Reserva: These Rioja red wines are aged over five years, with at least two years spent in 49.5-gallon oak barrels and another two years in bottles before sale. White and rosé Gran Reserva wines must age for at least four years, with at least six months spent in oak barrels.

With their rich and varied flavours, Rioja wines complement a wide array of dishes.

Fresh fruity Joven Riojas can be served with light starters. Think dishes such as tapas, grilled vegetables and crisp salads. Their brightness can also cut through the richness of fatty fish, making them a good option with dishes such as grilled sardines or tuna steaks.

With a more structured body due to its oak ageing, Crianza Riojas can stand up to heartier dishes. Classic pairings include roasted lamb, grilled pork and mildly spiced dishes. For vegetarians, mushroom risottos or aubergine parmigiana  are a good bet.

With more complexity, Reserva Rioja red wines are ideal for special occasions and richer dishes. They go well with game meats such as venison or duck, slow-cooked beef stew or a classic Spanish paella. If you’re sticking with white and rosé Reservas, richer fish dishes or poultry in creamy sauces work well.

The complex depth of Gran Reserva wines makes them a good match for aged cheeses, truffle-infused dishes or slow-roasted meats with herbs – ideal for special dinners or celebrations.

Discover more food and wine pairings ideas

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order in three to five working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

We want you to be entirely happy with your chosen wine, so we offer an unbeatable money-back guarantee on every single bottle – even wines you buy on sale.

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If you aren't happy for any reason, get in touch and we’ll arrange to collect your bottle within 48 hours.

Sending wine as a gift online with Laithwaites couldn’t be easier.

• Choose your wine gift and select ‘add to basket’.
• Go to your basket and select ‘checkout’.Select your shipping address (add a new one of you need to).
• Add a case label message (free) or choose a gift card and add a message (for £1.99)
• Select ‘Continue’ and choose shipping method.
• Next day and named day are available for a small extra charge.
• Pay using your chosen method (Credit or Debit card, Apple Pay, GPay or PayPal).
• We’ll take care of the rest!

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