Rioja Wines

Rioja is best known for red wines crafted from the Tempranillo grape variety. Many of the wines fall under Rioja’s famous classification system, with the most common being Rioja Crianza, Rioja Reserva and Rioja Gran Reserva.

In Rioja, wines are classified by their region of origin as well as the amount of time they have spent aging in barrel and bottle before release. These classifications indicate the style of wine you can expect in the bottle.

The primary difference between Rioja classifications is the amount of time the wine spends aging in oak barrel and bottle before release. In general, young wines have a fresher, more fruit-forward profile, while mature wines have a smoother, more complex character with notes of spice, vanilla, cedar and leather.

Aging hierarchy:

Genérico (Joven): no minimum aging requirements

Crianza: at least 2 years of aging (1 in oak)

Reserva: at least 3 years of aging (1 in oak)

Gran Reserva: at least 5 years of aging (2 in oak)

Rioja is incredibly food friendly, thanks to its medium body, vibrant acidity and moderate tannins. It pairs well with a wide range of foods, but classic matches include lamb, pork, tapas, mushroom- or pepper-based vegetarian dishes and aged cheeses.

Climate and winemaking traditions greatly influence the character of wines. Rioja’s warm continental climate produces Tempranillo wines with vibrant, red-fruit flavors, while its tradition of barrel aging imparts smoothness, complexity and notes of vanilla and spice.