![rioja wines rioja wines](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/27/ba/6c/27ba6c09b3c2f516b384c16fdf4befb3--lightbox-wines.jpg)
![rioja wines rioja wines](https://midweekwines.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tesco-Castillo_San_Lorenzo_Rioja_Reserva-0.jpg)
The most notable of these, and perhaps the most unexpected, are sparkling wines – not something with which Rioja is often associated. The region's soils vary from plot to plot, with the finest containing high levels of limestone.Īlthough the Rioja's vineyards focus very strongly on producing wines in the regional style, and for sale under the Rioja DO appellation title, other styles of wine are also produced here. This is a significant factor in the local climate, which is warmer and drier than that just to the north. Certified production of wine exceeded 250 million litres.Ĭlimate & soil: The Cantabrian Mountains, which flank Rioja to the north and west, provide shelter from cold, wet influences of the Atlantic Ocean. In 2017, the vineyard area was recorded at 64,215 hectares, 91 % of which is planted with red grape varieties. The region is regarded by many as Spain’s top wine region and is certainly the most famous, the vineyards follow along the route of the Ebro River for roughly 100 km between the towns of Haro and Alfaro. Rioja wine region is best known for red wines made predominately from Tempranillo with dark berry aromas, spice on the palate, and long barrel ageing. It borders the Basque Country to the north, Navarra to the northeast, Aragón to the southeast, and Castilla y León to the west and south. Rioja wine region is surrounded by other winemaking regions of Spain. The region spans a terrain stretching 75 miles from northwest to southeast. More recently, the region has seen the arrival of a new wave of modern bodegas that are pushing the boundaries of winemaking and taking the local wines to even greater heights. In the area, there are many historic wine producers, many of whom have been making wine for centuries. Rioja is known as Spain’s fine wine capital and the region is characterised by rich tradition and modern innovation.