Spain

Rioja

Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.

Continental in the upper reaches, with Atlantic and Mediterranean influences; oak ageing is central to the style.

Rioja, in Spain's north, is the country's most internationally celebrated wine region. Its traditional style - Tempranillo aged long in American oak - produces gentle, vanilla-kissed reds that are among the world's most restrained yet beguiling.

Modern Rioja is a tale of two styles: the classic, softly textured, oak-aged wines and a current wave of fresher, terroir-driven reds. Both are excellent, so choosing between them is a matter of taste.

For the buyer, Rioja's ageing categories give an automatic quality roadmap, and even entry-level Rioja delivers superb value.

Terroir & Soil

Three sub-zones with distinctive soils - clay and limestone in Rioja Alta and Alavesa, alluvial in Rioja Oriental.

What to Expect from the Wines

  • · Rioja is Spain's most famous wine region, built on Tempranillo and American-oak ageing.
  • · Roble (young), Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva mark increasing age and elegance.
  • · White Rioja from traditional barrel-aged Viura is one of Spain's most distinctive whites.

Remarkable Bottles from Rioja

All wines →
red

R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Tempranillo. The great traditionalist Rioja, aged for a decade in oak before release — history in a bottle.

$60–$110 est. retail

red

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Tempranillo. The benchmark semi-traditional Rioja — long-aged Tempranillo that drinks beautifully on release.

$50–$90 est. retail

red

Rioja Tempranillo

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

Rioja Tempranillo is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Tempranillo. a house-style Rioja tempranillo that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

red

Rioja Grenache

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

Rioja Grenache is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Grenache. a house-style Rioja grenache that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

red

Rioja Graciano

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

Rioja Graciano is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Graciano. a house-style Rioja graciano that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

red

Rioja Mazuelo

Rioja · 2024 (representative vintage)

Rioja Mazuelo is an red wine from Spain, in the Rioja region (Northern Spain, along the Ebro river, split between the regions of La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.), made principally from Mazuelo. a house-style Rioja mazuelo that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

Food Pairing

  • · Rioja pairs beautifully with ham, cured meats, lamb and roast chicken.
  • · Reserva and Gran Reserva accompany grilled meat and hard cheese.
  • · White Rioja is superb with seafood, tapas and rich fish.

Buying from Rioja

  • › Learn the labels: Crianza (2-3y), Reserva (3y, at least 1 in barrel), Gran Reserva (5y, 2+ in barrel).
  • › Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa tend to elegance; Rioja Oriental delivers ripe, generous bottles.
  • › Traditionalists love the creamy vanilla oak; modernists seek fresher, fruit-forward wines.