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Rioja is the best known of Spanish wines and the red wines have traditionally been characterised by the long periods they spend in cask and their oaky nose and flavour. In recent years the reds have spent less time in wood and more in bottle, and Rioja has also been producing a new style of white wine , light, fresh and fruity, without age in wood.

The Rioja DOCa is divided into three sub regions of Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja.

Production of Rioja in its present style began after the double disasters of oidium and phylloxera in France in the late 1800’s, when French negociants moved into the district and introduced methods that were used in Bordeaux – notably destalking of the grapes and the aging of the wines in 225 litre oak casks. Long after the French reduced the period in wood , the Riojans continued to age the wines , both red and white for long years in oak – hence the characteristically vanilla – like bouquet and flavour and only recently has more attention been given to bottle age.

Of the many vine varieties formally grown in Rioja, the consejo reguador now approves only the following seven.

Tempranillo – the Rioja grape par excellence , thick skinned, intensely black high alcohol and suitable for aging.

Graciano – small, round and black, make fresh, aromatic wines but are too scarce, too low in alcohol to be used on their own.

Mazuelo – large pointed grapes yield musts rich in colour, extract and tannin, good for wood aged wines.

Garnacha/Grenache – medium sized, thin skinned , widely grown in many other parts of Spain, their musts contain high alcohol, are blended with others to contribute alcohol degree and body. On their own Garnacha wines oxidise very quickly.

Some experimental plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon are permitted

Viura or Macabeo are particulary suited for making light and fruity white wines. Malvasia, vigorous and large leaved but proned to mildew and produce fresh wines with low alcohol but often blended with Viura. Granacha Blanca , not used much in Rioja but produce pleasant white wines, higher in alcohol.