Rioja
Located in between central Spain and the heart of the Basque country, Rioja has been one of Spain's hallmark wine producing regions for generations. Famous for its wines made from a blend of red grapes dominated by Tempranillo and Garnacha, or Grenache, modern incarnations of Rioja are bright and laden with red-fruit character, underpinned by sweet spice and vanilla. The Cantabrian mountains to the north of the region protect the vineyards from the harsh Atlantic-derived weather, and Rioja enjoys a warm, dry climate.
Most Rioja wines receive oak treatment, which gives them their signature vanilla and sweet spice flavours. The amount of time they age in oak defines their category. Rioja Joven wines receive little or no oak; while Rioja Crianza gets a minimum of one year in barrel followed by one year in bottle. Reserva wines get a year in oak and minimum two years in bottle while the region's finest wines, Rioja Gran Reserva, cannot be released until they have undergone five years ageing, two of which will be in oak.
