Rioja is successfully resisting the trend, seen in the remainder of Spain, to produce jammy, sweetish, oaky, highly alcoholic and ordinary wines, which are currently severely damaging the reputation of Spanish wines in general, in spite of generous ratings and reviews, particularly in American media. There were few tastings in the course of the past year that saw us as enthusiastic as this one.

(Source: Information Bureau Rioja)

There is a tremendous bandwidth of styles in the region, ranging from extremely traditional, designed to be oxidative, light-bodied and salty to highly modern, fruit-driven, creamy and juicy wines with spicy new oak. Some top-rated bodegas have both on offer: traditional Reservas and Gran Reservas with extended barrel maturation, plus frequently a special blend or selection, matured for a shorter period in new barriques, using Bordeaux as an example, which is often the flagship wine.

Good producers in Rioja – and there are plenty of them – are managing to maintain a clear common sense of place in their wines, which transcends the multitude of styles and philosophies. Rioja is based on finesse, on its very own, complex spice, and often rather noble charm, and the traditional wines certainly encompass these characteristics, as do the modern variants produced by the leading wineries. At the same time, the prices remain generally surprisingly moderate, there is hardly another famous and renowned red wine producing region in the world where outstanding wines are available at comparably low prices.

Unfortunately, some notable producers are missing in our list. However, they have not been forgotten, but not all of the top bodegas have accepted our invitation to submit their wines for our tasting.

(Source: Information Bureau Rioja)

To the "BEST OF Rioja" (PDF document)

All recently tasted Rioja red wines

All recently tasted Rioja white wines