Rioja

Rioja is a dry, medium to full-bodied red from northern Spain, usually led by Tempranillo. Expect cherry, plum and blackberry with vanilla, spice, leather and savoury flavours, particularly in oak-aged bottles. Smooth, warming and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with steak, roast lamb, chorizo, BBQ food, burgers and tomato-based dishes.

Taste:

Fruit, spice and a long-standing love affair with oak.

Rioja is typically dry and medium to full-bodied, with moderate acidity and tannins. Expect red cherry, black cherry, plum and blackberry, often joined by dried herbs and savoury spice.

Ageing can transform the flavour considerably. Oak brings classic notes of vanilla, cedar, toast and sometimes coconut, while time in the bottle can introduce leather, tobacco, dried fruit and earthy flavours.

Younger Rioja tends to be fresher and fruitier, while longer-aged styles become smoother, softer and more complex.

So if you've ever said you like a red that's "smooth but not boring", Rioja would like a word.

Food Pairings:

Rioja and Spanish food are an extremely reliable combination.

Try it with chorizo, jamón, meatballs in tomato sauce, patatas bravas, grilled meats or a charcuterie board loaded with cured meats and Manchego.

For red meat, pair Rioja with steak, ribeye, sirloin, roast beef, beef stew, burgers, roast lamb, lamb chops or lamb shank.

It's also a brilliant BBQ wine. BBQ ribs, grilled steak, burgers, smoky sausages and lamb kebabs all work particularly well with Rioja's combination of ripe fruit, spice and oak.

Tomato-based dishes are another great match, including lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, beef ragù, meatballs, tomato pasta and pizza.

For meat-free options, try mushroom dishes, lentil stew, grilled aubergine, roasted peppers or smoky roasted vegetables.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Rioja, Tempranillo is the obvious grape to explore further – it's the variety at the heart of most red Rioja.

Ribera del Duero offers a richer, more concentrated take on Tempranillo, while Toro takes things into even bolder territory.

Priorat is another great option if you love powerful Spanish reds with ripe fruit, spice and plenty of structure.

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More About Rioja:

Rioja is one of Spain's most famous wine regions, stretching across parts of La Rioja, the Basque Country and Navarra in northern Spain.

Tempranillo is the key red grape, often blended with varieties including Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, also known as Carignan.

You'll commonly see ageing terms on Rioja labels. Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate wines that have met specific ageing requirements, including time spent in barrel and bottle. You'll also find younger wines that put much more emphasis on fresh fruit.

And Rioja isn't exclusively red. The region produces white and rosé wines too.

Still, when someone says "a bottle of Rioja", there's a very good chance everyone's already picturing the red. Main-character energy achieved.