Spain | Rioja

 

Laguardia Vineyards in Rioja

The Rioja wine region is located in northern Spain, on both sides of the River Ebro. It was the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status in 1925 and in 1991, it was promoted to DOCa (Qualified Designation of Origin), a higher category reserved for wines maintaining a proven consistency and quality over a long period of time.

Geographically, Rioja is divided in to three districts: Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental (called Rioja Baja until 2018) and while each district has distinct differences, there is no hierarchy of quality between them. Rioja Alavesa lies in the northwest of the La Rioja region in the Basque province of Álava. Along with Rioja Alta, it is the heartland of the Tempranillo grape.

Rioja Alta, to the north-west and south of the Ebro River in the province of La Rioja, stretches as far as the city of Logroño. Elegance and poise is the hallmark of wines made here. Rioja Oriental, located to the south-east, is the hottest of the three districts and specialises in wines made from the Garnacha grape.

Rioja produces a collection of red, white and rosé wines, but it is the reds that account for the greater part of its fame. Ageing classifications have, until recently, been the primary means for separating one wine from another.

Rioja Joven (‘young’) wines are destined for early drinking and they often see little or no oak and are only aged for one to two years before release.

Rioja labelled as Crianza are aged for two years (one year in oak and one year in bottle) and are best suited for early or mid-term enjoyment.

Rioja Reserva wines are aged for three years, often one year in oak and two years in bottle; however there are producers who go above and beyond this requirement with their Reserva wines. Rioja Reserva wines can be age-worthy or offer serious immediate consumption.

Rioja Gran Reserva wines have been regarded as the region’s pinnacle; they are at least five years old (two years in oak barrel and three years in bottle) and are generally ready to drink. But they can age for years too; their long barrel ageing often renders them gentle and complex, rather than big and rich.

While the region is rightly famous for its reds, the true 'Insider's Choice' is Rioja Blanco. Historically consumed only by the winemakers themselves, these complex, barrel-fermented white wines are now recognized as some of the finest in the world, offering a serious alternative to White Burgundy

Delve Deeper

Entrance to Macán Winery in La Rioja Alta, Spain

Bodega Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia | Rioja Alta
Bodega Contador | Rioja Alta

Bodega Contador | Rioja Alta
Bodega Lanzaga Rioja Logo

Bodega Lanzaga | Rioja Alavesa
Finca Martelo Vineyard Marker Stone

Bodega Torre de Oña | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Amezola de la Mora Rioja Wine Cellars

Bodegas Amézola de la Mora | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Bideona Rioja Alavesa Collection Logo

Bodegas Bideona | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Logo

Bodegas Hermanos Peciña | Rioja Alavesa
The hexagonal domes of Bodegas Olarra

Bodegas Ondarre | La Rioja
Alvaro Palacios

Bodegas Palacios Remondo | Rioja Oriental
R. López de Heredia Observation Tower at Haro

Bodegas R. López de Heredia | Rioja Alta
Bodegas Valdemar Cork

Bodegas Valdemar | La Rioja
Artadi Wine Capsules

Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi | Álava
Bodegas Y Viñedos Pujanza Logo

Bodegas y Viñedos Pujanza | Rioja Alavesa
Bodegas Zugober Belezos Rioja Logo

Bodegas Zugober | Rioja Alavesa
C.V.N.E. Rioja Logo

C.V.N.E. | Rioja Alta
El Coto Stag's Head Logo

El Coto | Rioja Alavesa
Miguel Angel Gregorio of Finca Allende

Finca Allende | Rioja Alta
The stones 'piedra' of Finca Valpiedra

Finca Valpiedra | Rioja Alta
Izadi Collection Image

Izadi | Rioja Alavesa
Jesús Madrazo Wines Logo

Jesús Madrazo Wines | Rioja
La Rioja Alta S.A. | Rioja Alta

La Rioja Alta S.A. | Rioja Alta
Old Bottles of Marqués de Riscal Rioja

Marqués de Riscal | Rioja Alavesa
Viña Eguía Wine Label

Viña Eguía | Rioja Alavesa
Clean Viña Real Gran Reserva Bottle in Wine Rack next to dusty old bottles

Viña Real | Rioja Alavesa

THE LINE UP

Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Graciano Red Wine Bottle on a white background

Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Graciano 2023
£14.75
£14.75
/
A rare, intensely coloured Rioja delivering deep blackberry, subtle spice, and a remarkably fresh finish... Read More...
Bottle of El Goto Blanco wine on a white background

El Coto Rioja Blanco 2025
£12.50
£12.50
/
A wonderfully crisp, bright Spanish white wine packed with refreshing citrus and green apple flavours... Read More...
Palacios Remondo 'La Vendimia' Rioja Wine Bottle on a white background

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia Rioja 2022
£18.00
£18.00
/
A vibrant, juicy, Pinot-esque Garnacha from superstar winemaker Álvaro Palacios & his ancestral Rioja vineyards... Read More...
Bottle of Senorio de P. Pecina Reserva Rioja wine on a white background

Hermanos Peciña Rioja Reserva 2016
£23.00
£23.00
/
Hermanos Peciña's exceptional 2016 vintage Reserva is a benchmark of traditional Rioja elegance, depth & refinement... Read More...
Bottle of Hermanos Peciña Rioja Crianza on a white background

Hermanos Peciña Rioja Crianza 2019
£18.00
£18.00
/
A traditional, elegant Rioja Crianza focusing on bright fruit, savoury complexity & gentle aging... Read More...
C.V..E. Imperial Rioja Reserva Bottle

Imperial Rioja Reserva 2019
£30.00
£30.00
/
Instantly recognisable to all Rioja aficionados the heritage of this wine speaks for itself... Read More...
Izadi Selección Blanco White Rioja Bottle

Izadi Rioja `Selección` Blanco 2023
£19.50
£19.50
/
The first Rioja white wine produced using all six indigenous grape varieties... Read More...
Viña Santurnia Rioja Gran Reserva Red Wine Bottle

Viña Santurnia Rioja Gran Reserva 2011
£29.00
£29.00
/
A velvety smooth, complex & elegant Rioja Gran Reserva from the excellent 2010 vintage... Read More...
Cellar Offer
Rioja Explorer Six

Rioja Explorer Six
£92.00
£92.00
£99.50
/
Six bottles that showcase the varying styles, grapes & colours Rioja has to offer... Read More...
Bodegas de Ayala 'Viña Santurnia' Rioja Crianza Bottle

Viña Santurnia Rioja Crianza 2021
£16.75
£16.75
/
Velvety smooth Rioja Crianza made from pure Tempranillo grown in the Sierra de Cantabria foothills... Read More...
Bodega Lanzaga 'Lanzaga' Rioja Red Wine Bottle

Bodega Lanzaga 'Lanzaga' Rioja 2021
£33.00
£33.00
/
A rich, sophisticated & complex Rioja with a true sense of place that ages wonderfully... Read More...
Bodegas Lanzaga 'LZ' Rioja Red Wine Bottle

Bodegas Lanzaga 'LZ' Rioja 2022
£20.00
£20.00
/
A tribute to grape growers of the 1920's, LZ keeps alive the memory of taste... Read More...
Bodegas Bideona Mayela Rioja Alavesa Bottle

Bideona Mayela Rioja Alavesa 2024
£13.50
£13.50
/
A contemporary, juicy & unoaked Rioja featuring a lucky dip of label artwork... Read More...
Finca Valpiedra Rioja Blanco Reserva Bottle

Finca Valpiedra Rioja Blanco Reserva 2018
£60.00
£60.00
/
A limited edition Rioja Blanco Reserva that is creamy, fresh & beautifully balanced... Read More...
C.V.N.E. Monopole Clásico Rioja Blanco Seco Bottle

Monopole Clásico Rioja Blanco Seco 2021
£27.00
£27.00
/
Viura blended with a little Manzanilla Sherry to produce a unique & moreish white wine... Read More...
Finca Allende Rioja Blanco Bottle

Finca Allende Rioja Blanco 2022
£30.00
£30.00
/
A deliciously harmonious, juicy & unique barrel fermented white Rioja... Read More...
La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 890 Selección Especial 2010 Bottle

La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 890 Selección Especial 2010
£170.00
£170.00
/
Intense, complex & elegant, it's drinkable now but has a long life ahead of it!... Read More...
El Coto Organic Rioja Crianza Bottle

El Coto Organic Rioja Crianza 2021
£16.00
£16.00
/
A Rioja Crianza made from 100% organically grown Tempranillo grapes... Read More...
Cellar Offer
Viña Real Rioja Crianza Bottle

Viña Real Rioja Crianza 2022
£11.50
£11.50
£12.75
/
A classic Rioja Alavesa. Smooth & silky with perfectly integrated tannins & fresh long finish... Read More...
Viña Real Barrel Fermented White Rioja Bottle

Viña Real Barrel Fermented Rioja Blanco 2022
£12.50
£12.50
/
A masterclass in well-judged subtle oak with a hint of spice & vanilla to finish... Read More...
Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva Bottle

Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva 2018
£32.00
£32.00
/
A masterclass in marrying power with refinement, this is a highly respected Rioja Gran Reserva... Read More...
Bodegas Pujanza Norte Single Vineyard Rioja Bottle

Bodegas Pujanza Norte 2018
£56.00
£56.00
/
High-scoring, single-vineyard Rioja of breathtaking quality & voted Decanter's Wine of the Year... Read More...
Macán Clásico Rioja Magnum Size Bottle Gift Boxed

Macán Clásico Rioja | Magnum (150cl)
£120.00
£120.00
/
Vega Sicilia & Benjamin de Rothschild's Macán Clásico Rioja in large bottle format... Read More...
Artadi Viñas de Gain Tinto Bottle

Artadi Viñas de Gain Tinto 2021
£36.00
£36.00
/
A fresh & fruit driven juicy Tempranillo with a silky smooth finish... Read More...
Artadi La Hoya Single Vineyard Tempranillo Bottle

Artadi La Hoya 2020
£60.00
£60.00
/
This pure, organic Tempranillo is the perfect expression of a single-vineyard wine... Read More...
Petra de Valpiedra Garnacha Rioja Bottle

Petra de Valpiedra Rioja 2019
£46.00
£46.00
/
An outstanding wine created as a tribute to Garnacha, once the queen of Rioja vineyards... Read More...
Bodegas Pujanza Hado Rioja Bottle

Bodegas Pujanza 'Hado' Rioja 2021
£20.00
£20.00
/
Bold, rich & fresh, Hado is the perfect introduction to Pujanza Rioja... Read More...
Bodegas Pujanza La Paul Rioja Bottle

Bodegas Pujanza La Paul Rioja 2017
£36.00
£36.00
/
A Rioja of essence & personality from one of the region's First Growth producers... Read More...
Bodegas Pujanza Valdepoleo Rioja Bottle

Bodegas Pujanza Valdepoleo Rioja 2019/20
£28.00
£28.00
/
An impeccable, fresh, vibrant & harmonious Rioja crafted by Carlos San Pedro... Read More...
Torre de Oña Finca Martelo Rioja Reserva Bottle

Finca Martelo Rioja Reserva 2016
£37.00
£37.00
/
An intensely flavoured site specific Rioja Reserva showing great elegance and poise... Read More...
Palacios Remondo Propiedad Viñas Viejas Rioja Bottle

Palacios Remondo Propiedad Viñas Viejas Rioja 2021
£36.00
£36.00
/
The flagship red of Palacios Remondo is a silky smooth Grenache of exceptional finesse... Read More...
Coto de Imaz Rioja Reserva Bottle

Coto de Imaz Rioja Reserva 2019
£19.00
£19.00
/
A velvety smooth Rioja Reserva aged for 18 months in new American oak... Read More...
DWWA 97 Points
Coto de Imaz Rioja Gran Reserva Bottle

Coto de Imaz Rioja Gran Reserva 2019
£27.00
£27.00
/
A mature & elegant Rioja Gran Reserva with a concentrated, silky smooth palate & long finish... Read More...
El Coto Rioja Rosado Single Bottle

El Coto Rioja Rosado 2022
£11.00
£11.00
/
Spanish rosé bursting with aromas of Strawberry, Raspberry & candied cherries... Read More...
Finca Allende Rioja Rosado Bottle

Finca Allende Rioja Rosado 2018
£26.00
£26.00
/
A delicious Rioja Rosado crafted by famed winemaker Miguel Ángel de Gregorio... Read More...
Contino Rioja Reserva Bottle

C.V.N.E. Contino Rioja Reserva 2020
£26.00
£26.00
/
A high Graciano content gives incredible freshness to this single estate Riojan legend... Read More...
C.V.N.E. Contino Rioja Viña del Olivo Bottle

C.V.N.E Contino Rioja Viña del Olivo 2018
£62.00
£62.00
/
Single Estate Rioja, regarded as one of the best wines of modern Spain... Read More...
C.V.N.E. Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva Bottle

C.V.N.E. Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva 2015
from £50.00
from £50.00
/
One of the finest Rioja's, vintage after vintage Imperial is beautifully elegant & balanced... Read More...
C.V.N.E. Imperial Real de Asúa Rioja Bottle

C.V.N.E. Imperial Real de Asúa Rioja 2015
£55.00
£55.00
/
No Reserva or Gran Reserva designation, this is simply Real de Asúa... Read More...
C.V.N.E. Asúa Rioja Reserva Tinto Bottle

C.V.N.E. Asúa Rioja Reserva 2019/20
£21.00
£21.00
/
Great value Rioja Reserva from the C.V.N.E stable... Read More...