MAIN Wine Europe Spain Rioja

One of the smallest wine regions within Spain, Rioja has a big reputation for its rich, oakey wines that are as varied as the grapes grown in the area.

These include Tempranillo, the premier varietal, along with Graciano, and Viura (the the basis of white Rioja). In fact, it was a local priest who learned winemaking in France in the late 18th century, who then adapted his knowledge to the Rioja region which since has steadily grown in popularity.

Today, a trip to Rioja would not be complete without a tour of some of its most famous wineries including Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal.

Rioja Wine - One-stop browsing for history, grape varieties and vineyard stats, along with the latest news and reports, tasting manual, vintage rating charts, related links.

La Rioja Wineries - Directory listings of regional wineries with direct links to official sites.

The Wine Region of Rioja, Spain - Ilustrated narrative explaining the aging process, wine types, regional boundaries and grape varieties, plus surf around the right-hand menu for related tourist info.

Rioja Wine Notes - Expert knowledge of the Rioja region told in its ancient origins with a timeline dating from the 12 century to the present, along with its recent history, market issues, grape varietals.

Why once-dowdy Rioja reigns in Spain - The BBC focuses on the Rioja region through interviews with winemakers from the region discussing the subtle change to a fruitier red than traditionally produced in the area.

also see -> Montilla | Ribera del Duero | Rioja | Sherry

also see -> Spain Tourist Attractions