Rioja - Rioja (re-OH-hah), in northern Spain, is their top wine producing region. It produces red wines made from Tempranillo (>80%), but Carignan, Garciano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Maturana Tinta are also used in red Rioja wines.  Very few white grapes are grown in Rioja but include Chardonnay, Viura, Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo and Granacha Blanca. These white wines account for less than 10% of Spain’s annual production.

Here are a few facts about Rioja wines:

The controlling board in Rioja, the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, ensures that the Rioja quality requirements are met.

There are various types of Rioja wines:

“Rioja” is the most basic. It is aged for a matter of months, bottled and sold. It’s bright and fruity with big cherry flavors.

“Crianza” is required to be aged for one year in oak and spend one year in the bottle before being sold.

“Reserva” in Rioja actually means something. A Rioja Reserva is required to be aged for one year in oak and then are not sent to market for three years after vintage.

“Gran Reserva” must spend a minimum of two years in the barrel and two years in the bottle before being sold with a total of five years of aging. This wine is produced from the best grapes and ends up with the best tannin structure.

There are three wine zones in Rioja:

Rioja Alavesa - With rolling hills throughout this region, its wines tend to be similar to those of Rioja Alta with higher levels of tannin and acidity. 

Rioja Alta - With its elevation and cooler temperatures, Rioja Alta wines tend to be more balanced with good tannin and acidity. Sub-regions include:

Iregua Valley - The Iregua River divides Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja. This valley, which lies in both Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja, produces wines of medium acidity and lower tannin due to its warmer temperatures.

Najerilla Valley - This valley has the highest number of acres of vineyard in Rioja. Growing primarily Tempranillo and Garnacha from old vines (some 80 to 100 years), these wines can have smoky hints of tobacco, red fruit flavors and higher levels of tannin and acidity.

Oja Valley - The vineyards of this valley are planted at the highest elevation in Rioja Alta. The wines produced nearest the Oja river are rich, highly aromatic and lower in acidity.  Wineries on the northern side of the valley are more fruit forward with higher acidity and stronger tannin. These wines do well with aging.

Rioja Oriental - Known previously as Rioja Baja (i.e. lower in altitude), the name was changed in 2018 from Rioja Baja. The sub-region forms the largest portion of the Rioja region, and accounts for 40 percent of its wine output.

The Rioja wine production began in the period from 200 BC to the sixth century. In 1901, the phylloxera mite arrived in Rioja, causing wide-spread devastation in the region's vineyards. It was not until the 1970s that the industry once again came back to full production.

So, try some of the wines from the Rioja region of Spain. And, when you raise your glass, say “Salud!” as you will be toasting good health to everyone. Cheers!