Rioja is a wine region in North Central Spain, 120 Miles south of Bilbao. There are 63,593 hectares of vineyards divided between three provinces on the Upper Ebro – La Rioja (43,885 ha), Alava (12,934 ha) and Navarre (6,774 ha).
The wine region produces 280 to 300m litres of wine annually, of which 90% is red and the rest a mixture of white and rosé.
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuela(Carignan), Maturana, Viura (Macabeo), Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía, Chardonnay and Maturana Blanca.
Rioja benefits from a mix of Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean climates.
Hot summers and cold winters with relatively high rainfall are all perfect for producing top quality grapes which go into producing quality Rioja wines.
La Rioja includes different soil types and can be divided between three provinces:
Rioja Alta: Here we can find a big diversity of soils, most of them limestone and clay, but in some places the soil can be rich in iron or full of pebbles.
Rioja Alavesa: On the North edge of the region, it has a distinctive chalky clay-limestone soil and steeply sloped landscape.
Rioja Oriental: It has much fertile alluvial soils and is heavy with silt.
An ALL-SPANISH FINAL pitted two classic Riojas against contenders from Ribera del Duero and Bierzo, but this Rioja Reserva from Lan won the judges’ hearts in the end, praised for showing ‘modern Spain at its absolute best’.
Family-owned since its foundation in 1973, Olarra has expanded over the years, establishing a second Rioja winery, Bodegas Ondarre, and an operation in Castilla called Casa del Valle.
Ten thousand people took part in the 'battle of wine' festival...
As you sip away at your glass of Rioja, do you ever consider the steps that led to your enjoyment of it? Decanter's associate editor, Tina Gellie, recently turned winemaker for the day to put her blending skills to the test.
Spanish wine group Codorniu has embarked on a major expansion in Rioja through its majority-owned subsidiary, Bodegas Bilbainas, according to its chief executive, Javier Pages.
Global Rioja sales have continued their resurgence started in 2013, reaching a record 281m litres last year and with exports up by 3.5%, show official figures.
Rioja wine producers including Ramon Bilbao and Bodegas Riojanas are investing more than 12m euros ($13.6m) this year in the acquisition of vineyards in Rueda DO, highlighting the region's rising reputation.
Rioja is all things to all wine lovers: from simple unoaked wines, through traditional Tempranillos aged in American oak, to more modern blends and terroir-driven examples. Sarah Jane Evans MW examines the styles
John Stimpfig heads to its 19th-century Haro bodega to find out how it has remained true to its heritage while moving with the times.
Three outstanding wine tourism projects were honored on October 9 at the 12th annual ‘Best Of Wine Tourism awards ceremony held at the University of Deusto in Bilbao.
A tasting of the exalted 1964 Rioja vintage has shown both the potential value and the limits of this era in one of Spain’s premier wine regions.
Rioja producer Oscar Tobia is experimenting with alternatives to oak barrels for ageing and plans to release a blended white wine partially matured in chestnut and ash.
This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Red Rioja over £15 went to Marqués de Terán, Seleción Especial, Rioja 2011 (14%)
Pale, light and delicate, with an elegant freshness and fruity flavour… Ramón Bilbao Rosé is not a traditional Rioja - it is today’s Rioja.
A difficult 2013 growing season has culminated in the Rioja DOCa council describing the vintage as 'good', the worst official rating for a decade.
Spain's Bodegas Muriel says it will gain access to a 16th Century underground cellar containing 'legendary Rioja vintages' after aquiring the Conde de los Andes winery in Rioja Alta.
One of Rioja's top producers, Marques de Caceres, has said a shortage of white grape varieties in the region prompted it to purchase more than 100 hectares of vines in Rueda to satisfy its white wine ambitions.
Global consumption of Rioja wines hit an all-time record in 2013 as Spain's domestic drinkers rediscovered one of the country's best-known wine regions.
Sarah Jane Evans MW explains how styles have shifted as Rioja producers move away from the official classifications, and suggests the vintages, and wines, to look out for.
