Is Rioja worth visiting?
Touring Spain’s Rioja wine region is an unforgettable experience. Rioja is one of the most important wine regions in Spain, with top wines recognized all over the world. The food is also gorgeous. You can find amazing villages from Middle Ages or the most avant-garde buildings.
Where is Rioja wine region?
Central Spain
La Rioja (ree-oh-haa) is located in North Central Spain, just an hour’s drive south of Bilbao. It is Spain’s second smallest region (5,000 km2) and its most prestigious wine area. The total population is 316,000 residents.
Is Rioja a wine or a region?
Rioja is a wine region in North Central Spain, 120 Miles south of Bilbao. There are 63,593 hectares of vineyards divided between three provinces on the Upper Ebro – La Rioja (43,885 ha), Alava (12,934 ha) and Navarre (6,774 ha).
What is Rioja famous for?
La Rioja is known for its production of Rioja DOCa wines (although the Rioja viticultural region extends slightly into the neighboring administrative regions of Álava and Navarra).
What is Rioja known for?
Rioja is mainly known for its red wines. Rioja is also well-known for having wines that age for a long time. Tempranillo is Rioja´s main grape and most wines are blended with smaller amounts of Garnache, Graciano and Mazuelo grape. More information on the classification system of wine in Rioja can be found here.
How many wineries are there in Rioja?
Rioja (wine)
| Wine region | |
|---|---|
| Rioja DOCa in the regions of La Rioja, Navarre and in the province of Álava, in the Basque Country | |
| No. of vineyards | 16,413 |
| Varietals produced | Tempranillo, Viura, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo |
| No. of wineries | 673 |
What is the climate of Rioja?
In Rioja, the summers are short, hot, arid, and mostly clear and the winters are long, cold, dry, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 43°F to 88°F and is rarely below 38°F or above 96°F.
What are the characteristics of Rioja wine?
Wine from Rioja is known for its structure and tannins, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but it also has a fruity character. This makes it perfect for drinkers who love Cabernet but are also looking for the dominant cherry flavor that’s often present in wines made from Pinot Noir.
Is Rioja only from Spain?
Rioja [ˈrjoxa] is a wine region in Spain, with denominación de origen calificada (D.O. Ca., “Qualified Designation of Origin,” the highest category in Spanish wine regulation). Rioja wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of La Rioja and Navarre, and the Basque province of Álava.
How would you describe Rioja?
Where is Rioja made?
northeast Spain
What Is Rioja? Rioja is a Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O. Ca) wine named after the La Rioja province in northeast Spain, where the wine is made. The majority of Rioja wine is red (tinto), but it can also be white (blanco) or pink (rosado), and sometimes even sparkling, although this is uncommon.
How much wine does Rioja produce?
250 million liters
Rioja is home to more than 600 wineries, has 140,000 acres of cultivated land, and yields 250 million liters of wine annually. 85% of the wine produced is red and since Rioja wine is usually a blend of a few different varietals, there are never-ending wine-tasting possibilities.
What are the different types of Rioja?
Rioja wines are split into four classification levels: Genérico, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Wines from Rioja can be medium to full-bodied, with high tannins and rich flavors of dark berries, plum, tobacco, and herb.
Why Plan a trip to Rioja in Spain?
And planning a trip to Rioja is not an exception. Touring Spain’s Rioja wine region is an unforgettable experience. Rioja is one of the most important wine regions in Spain, with top wines recognized all over the world. The food is also gorgeous. You can find amazing villages from Middle Ages or the most avant-garde buildings.
What to do in La Rioja?
Of course, everyone knows the wines from La Rioja. This area of Spain has over 500 wineries and is internationally famous for the quality of its wines. As well as wine tasting, a visit to this region also offers a range of activities which take place in and around the extensive vineyards, including horse-riding, hot-air ballooning, 4×4 routes…
Can You Just Taste the wine at Rioja wineries?
Some of the wineries in Rioja offer wine tastings only, so you can go there just to taste. But at the most places, you need to do a whole winery tour before proceeding to taste. The good thing about the tour is that you will get a lot of information about how wine is ellaborated in Rioja.
Why visit La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa?
“The cultural landscape of the wine and vineyard of La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa” is on the list for potential Unesco World Heritage Sites. One of the biggest attractions to visit La Rioja region is its wineries. The visitor finds a combination of small family-owned wineries and major brands, traditional and avant-garde architecture.