Top 100 wines of Rioja - Page 4
Discover the top 100 best wines of Rioja as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Rioja and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Rioja
Rioja, in northern Spain, is best known for its berry-flavored, barrel-aged red wines made from Tempranillo and Garnacha. It is probably the leading wine region in Spain. It is certainly the most famous, rivaling only Jerez. The Vineyards follow the course of the Ebro for a hundred kilometres between the towns of Haro and Alfaro.
Besides Tempranillo and Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) are also used in Rioja's red wines. Some wineries, notably Marqués de Riscal, use small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon. White grapes are planted much less. In 2017, the vineyard area was recorded at 64,215 hectares (158,679 acres).
Discover the grape variety: Sauvignon blanc
Originally from Bordeaux, Sauvignon, or Sauvignon Blanc, is reputed to be one of the best French grape varieties for white wine. It is a white grape variety, not to be confused with Sauvignon Gris and its pale yellow color, or with Cabernet Sauvignon which produces red wines. Particularly famous thanks to Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc is cultivated as far as New Zealand, where it produces great wines whose reputation is well established.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of Rioja
wines from the region of Rioja go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or veal such as recipes of beef tagliata with truffle oil, couscous chicken and merguez or chicken bonne femme.
