Location: /Spain/Rioja

Rioja is arguably Spain’s leading wine region and certainly it’s most famous.  It is named after the river Oja (Rio Oja).  Rioja is divided into 3 zones – Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja.

Rioja Alta – in the Ebro Valley west of the town of Logrono.  The capital of Rioja Alta is Haro and is a great place to visit with lots of Spain’s most famous wineries packed into a small space.  Rioja Alavesa is a zone north of the river Ebro which falls in the Basque province of Alava.  Rioja Baja extends eastwards from Logrono.

Most Rioja wines are blends and Tempranillo is by far the most important grape and is usually the main wine in any blend.  Other important red grapes in Rioja are Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, Mazuelo (Carignan) and now Cabernet Sauvignon also.  For white wines the most important grapes are Viura (Macabeo) and Malvasia.

Red Rioja wines are classified into four categories, Joven - no or little cask ageing; Crianza - a minimum of 2 years ageing with at least 12 months in cask; Reserva – a minimum of 3 years ageing with at least 12 months in cask and Gran Reserva – a minimum of 2 years in cask plus 3 years in bottle.

Some of Rioja’s most famous wineries include CUNE (CVNE), La Rioja Alta & Allende.

Image	Name	Price
	Gran Reserva 890 1995 Gran Reserva 890 1995 Jamie says: "La Rioja Alta's top wine - the oak is just starting to loosen its grip, t…	£93.00	Buy More
	Banda Azul Rioja Crianza 2007, Paternina Banda Azul Rioja Crianza 2007, Paternina Jamie says: "Classic Rioja from the Alta region. Fantastic blend of oa…	£8.99	Buy More
	Urbina Crianza 2005 Urbina Crianza Rioja 2005 Jamie says: "Well-balanced, strawberry, nutty flavours on palate with splash of cream …	£11.99	Buy More
	Imperial Reserva 2004 Rioja, CUNE (CVNE) Imperial Reserva 2004 Rioja, CUNE (CVNE) Jamie says: "Aromatic on the nose with hints of red and black autumn fr…	£20.99	Buy More
	Vina Real Reserva 2004, CUNE (CVNE) Vina Real Reserva 2004, CUNE (CVNE) Jamie says: "Elegant and robust spicy note, the palate is all velvet and plu…	£19.99	Buy More
	Navajas Rioja Cosecha 2010 Navajas Rioja Cosecha 2010 Jamie says: "Navajas cosecha offers superb value - what stands this wine apart from its…	£7.99 £5.99	Buy More
	Vina Ardanza Reserva 2000, La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2000, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "Vina Ardanza is an iconic Rioja. Vina Ardanza displays wil…	£26.99	Buy More
	Gran Reserva 904 1998 Gran Reserva 904 1998 Jamie says: "La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced…	£39.99 £34.99	Buy More
	Tremendus Rioja Clarete 2009 Tremendus Rioja Clarete 2009  Jamie says: "Bodegas Honorio Rubio, the producer of Tremendus Clarete is bas…	£8.50	Buy More
	Montesc Rioja 2008 Montesc Rioja 2008 Jamie says: "Montesc is a great introduction to Rioja, it has lots of concentrated fruit flav…	£8.35	Buy More
	Rioja Reserva 2006, Bodegas Luis Alegre Rioja Reserva 2006, Bodegas Luis Alegre Jamie says: "Bodegas Luis Alegre makes Boutique Rioja from their state-o…	£14.75	Buy More
	Vina Real Gran Reserva 1999 Vina Real Gran Reserva 1999, CUNE (CVNE) Jamie says: "Vina Real has been around since 1920 and are some of Rioja…	£24.99	Buy More
	Allende 2004, Rioja Allende 2004, Rioja Jamie says: "Allende are regarded as one of Rioja top producers even though they might not b…	£19.99	Buy More
	Gran Reserva 904 MAGNUM 1997, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 1997 MAGNUM, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for t…	£90.00	Buy More
	Marques de Ulia Crianza 2006, Rioja Marques de Ulia Crianza 2006, Rioja Jamie says: "Very interesting one this - not a house that I would imagine many…	£8.99 £7.99	Buy More
	Baron de Ona Rioja Reserva 2005, Torre de Ona Baron de Ona Rioja Reserva 2005, Torre de Ona Jamie says: "Baron de Ona is produced at Torre de Ona in Laguardia…	£19.99	Buy More
	Vina Real Gran Reserva 2001, CUNE (CVNE) Vina Real Gran Reserva 2001, CUNE (CVNE) Jamie says: "Vina Real has been around since 1920 and are some of Rioja…	£22.50	Buy More
	Vina Real Reserva 2005 Rioja, CUNE (CVNE) Vina Real Reserva 2005 Rioja, CUNE (CVNE) Jamie says: "Vina Real Reserva is known as a classic Rioja.  The …	£17.99	Buy More
	Allende 2005, Rioja Allende 2005, Rioja Jamie says: "Allende are regarded as one of Rioja top producers even though they might not b…	£18.50 £16.99	Buy More
	Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2001, La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2001, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "The 2001 vintage of Ardanza has been classified a…	£24.99 £19.99	Buy More
	Vina Arana Reserva 2004, La Rioja Alta Vina Arana Reserva 2004, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "Vina Arana is one possibly my favourite wine from the Rioja …	£21.50	Buy More
	Vina Alberdi Reserva Rioja 2005, La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva Rioja 2005, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "Vina Alberdi is from the famed La Rioja Alta. Vina A…	£15.99	Buy More
	Gran Reserva 904 1997, Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 1997, Rioja Alta Jamie says: "La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditional…	£44.99	Buy More
	Ijalba Graciano Crianza 2007, Rioja Ijalba Graciano Crianza 2007, Rioja Jamie says: "Rioja with a difference.  Graciano normally plays second fid…	£14.50	Buy More
	Vinadrian Rioja Blanco 2010, Bodegas Berceo Vinadrian Rioja Blanco 2010, Bodegas Berceo  Jamie says: "The Vinadrian Blanco is a new addition to the ran…	£7.99 £5.99	Buy More
	Vinadrian Rioja Rosado 2011, Bodegas Berceo Vinadrian Rioja Rosado 2011, Bodegas Berceo  Jamie says: "The Vinadrian Rosado Rioja is a fantastic new add…	£7.99 £5.99	Buy More
	Vinadrian Rioja Tinto 2011, Bodegas Berceo Vinadrian Rioja Tinto 2011, Bodegas Berceo  Jamie says: "The Vinadrian Rioja Tinto is a fantastic new addit…	£7.99 £5.99	Buy More
	Vina Berceo Rioja Crianza 2007, Bodegas Berceo Vina Berceo Rioja Crianza 2007, Bodegas Berceo Jamie says: "A great example of a traditional Rioja crianza wine. &…	£11.99 £8.99	Buy More
	Berceo Nueva Generacion Rioja Crianza 2007 Berceo Nueva Generacion Rioja Crianza 2007 Jamie says: "A great example of a modern style Rioja crianza wine. &nbs…	£11.99 £8.99	Buy More
	Gonzalo de Berceo Rioja Reserva 2006 Gonzalo de Berceo Rioja Reserva 2006 Jamie says: "The Gonzalo Reserva Rioja has aromas of dried fruits, wild herbs…	£16.99 £12.99	Buy More
	Gonzalo de Berceo Rioja Gran Reserva 2001 Gonzalo de Berceo Rioja Gran Reserva 2001 Jamie says: "Cherry colour with dried fruits, sweet spice and tasty oak,…	£24.99 £18.99	Buy More
	Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2001 MAGNUM, La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2001 MAGNUM, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "The 2001 vintage of Ardanza has been class…	£49.99 £42.99	Buy More
	Gran Reserva 904 MAGNUM 1998, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 MAGNUM 1998, La Rioja Alta Jamie says: "La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks …	£80.00 £61.99	Buy More