Rioja Wine

The grand old master of Spanish wine producing regions, some of the finest aged wines in Spain come from this area, centred around the river Ebro, the Ebro valley is approx. one and a half hours drive South from Bilbao, bordered North & South by mountain ranges. Rioja is split into three official sub regions, Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja, the main characteristics of the areas or sub regions are;

Rioja Baja – The largest sub region, in the East of the region and accounts for approx. 40% of all wine produced, hot & dry climate with silt & clay soils the red wines produced from mainly the Garnacha Tinto grape are generally fuller and higher in alcohol.

Rioja Alavesa – This sub region situated on the Northern borders and split into 2 smaller growing areas and is infact by far the smallest of the sub regions and accounts for approx. 20% of all wine produced, here grows the most aromatic tempranillo grapes from yellow clay soil.

Riola Alta – Large area to the South & West of the region the soil is mainly silt & clay as in Baja and is very hilly in the South, the predominate grape is Garancha Tinto. The proclaimed capital town of the rioja region, Logrono, is situated in the Alta region.