Why Investing in Rioja Wine Is a Smart Move

While the Spanish Rioja region crafts a range of red, white, rose, and sparkling wines, it’s most renowned for its red Tempranillo blends. 

These sensual wines offer lush tannins and a stunning, fruity palate. But Rioja wines aren’t just flavorful – you can also earn handsome returns by investing in some age-worthy labels.  

Let’s explore all about investing in Rioja wine, the 10 best Rioja bottles, and how Vinovest can help you obtain some of these collectible labels. Also, discover why Rioja remains an underrated investment wine.

Investing in Rioja Wine

While most Rioja wines are youthful labels with limited aging potential, some styles can mature for 10 to 20 years and deliver consistent investment returns. 

Also, since 2018, demand for Rioja wine has increased among wine shoppers, leading to a 2.2% hike in average prices. 

These factors have elevated the wine’s investment potential, with some labels yielding returns similar to a blue-chip Super Tuscan, Napa Valley, Burgundy Grand Cru, or Bordeaux wine.

Besides their substantial value appreciation, Rioja cult wines have also been superstars at wine auctions. For instance:

• A 6-bottle lot of 2005 Artadi Vina El Pison was sold for $1,466 at a Christie’s auction in December 2020.
• At a Sotheby’s auction in May 2021, a 12-bottle lot of the 2001 La Rioja Alta, Gran Riserva 890 was sold for $2,000.

Investment-Grade Rioja Wine Styles

Not all Rioja wines are investment-worthy. The two major Rioja styles ideal for fine wine investing are:

• Reserva: Reserva wines are produced from selective, high-quality grapes harvested at the end of the growing season. 

Red Reserva wines are oak-aged for 12 months and matured in the bottle for two years. On the other hand, white Rioja is aged for at least six months in oak and two years in the bottle. 

So, Reserva labels can be cellared long-term (10 to 15 years) and are worthy additions to your wine portfolio.  

• Gran Reserva: Gran Reserva is the top-tier Rioja wine released once every few years and crafted from selective grapes harvested after a perfect growing season. 

While red Gran Reserva is matured for five years (two years in oak and three years in a bottle), white Gran Reserva is barrel-aged for at least six months and cellared for two more years in a bottle. 

Some Gran Reserva wines, aged 20 to 30 years, display rich flavor nuances and fetch wine investors high margins in the secondary market and at wine auctions.

If you’re a wine lover keen to build an investment portfolio of cult wines like the Gran Reserva, check out the Vinovest website. Vinovest is an AI-driven fine wine investment platform that lets you buy, store, and sell wine labels like Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, and more.

Its expert sommeliers conduct provenance checks on each bottle and purchase only authentic labels from top wine regions like France, the United States, and New Zealand. 

Additionally, Vinovest stores your fine wine collection of Chateau Latour, Vega Sicilia, and New World Australian wine under optimal conditions in their secure, bonded warehouses. 

So, which bottles should you pick for your collection?

10 Best Investment-Worthy Rioja Wine Bottles to Buy in 2023

Here are ten great investment-grade Rioja wine bottles you can add to your wine collection:

• 1968 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva ($1,288)
• 2016 Sierra Cantabria 'Magico' ($850)
• 2005 Bodegas Contador - Benjamin Romeo 'Contador' ($735)
• 1986 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial ($695)
• 2005 Remirez de Ganuza Gran Reserva ($450)
• 2017 Bodega Lanzaga 'Las Beatas' ($395)
• 2010 Bodegas Muga Aro ($260)
• 2005 Finca Allende Aurus ($220)
• 2016 Olivier Riviere 'Pozo Alto'($160)
• 2004 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco ($149)

1. 1968 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva ($1,288)

This bottle is one of the cult wines from the La Rioja Alta region. 

This label delivers consistent returns year on year. Between 2020 and 2022, its value appreciated by over 40%, from $346 to $486, four times the S&P 500’s annualized return of 10%.

2. 2016 Sierra Cantabria 'Magico' ($850)

Here’s a savory Rioja blend that received 96 points from wine critic Robert Parker for its balanced acidity and well-rounded palate. 

The red wine performed exceptionally in the secondary market, appreciating over 38% in value between 2021 and 2022. 

3. 2005 Bodegas Contador - Benjamin Romeo 'Contador' ($735)

The flagship 2005 Bodegas Contador investment grade wine earned a perfect 100 score from Robert Parker. 

It increased by a whopping 75% in value, from $440 to $774 between 2020 and 2022, outranking the prestigious Bordeaux index. 

4. 1986 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial ($695)

This investment wine from the La Rioja Alta region secured an enviable 100 score from James Suckling (former editor of Wine Spectator.) 

While the Dow Jones Industrial Index declined by 12% in 2022, the 1986 vintage Rioja appreciated by about 50%, from $466 to $697 in the same period.

5. 2005 Remirez de Ganuza Gran Reserva ($450)

This beautiful Rioja Alavesa red wine promises phenomenal investment potential, with a price rise of over 190% between 2021 and 2022. 

The price hike is considerably higher than the average annual increase in any Bordeaux index wine stock.

6. 2017 Bodega Lanzaga 'Las Beatas' ($395)

Here’s a stunning Spanish wine from the Rioja Alavesa region comparable to the cult wines of Bordeaux and Napa Valley. With a spectacular value appreciation of 78% between 2020 and 2022, this investment grade wine outpaces stock market indices like Dow Jones and S&P 500.   

7. 2010 Bodegas Muga Aro ($260)

This traditional Rioja wine earned an astounding score of 96 from Wine Spectator and 93 from Wine Enthusiast. Besides its stellar critics’ scores, the wine also has substantial investment potential, given its 32% value growth between 2021 and 2022.

8. 2005 Finca Allende Aurus ($220)

Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2005 Finca Allende Rioja wine a score of 94 for its prominent black fruit notes, balanced acidity, and creamy undertone. With a value appreciation of 124% between 2020 and 2021, this classic Rioja can be another worthy addition to your wine portfolio.

9. 2016 Olivier Riviere 'Pozo Alto' ($160)

Here’s a Rioja investment wine with 90+ scores from acclaimed critics (like Robert Parker and Tim Atkin) and price appreciation of over 77% in the fine wine market between 2021 and 2022.

10. 2004 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco ($149)

Though renowned for its red vintage wines, Rioja also produces premium white labels. 

This 2004 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia vintage bottle underwent a price increase of over 209% in 2021 (comparable to En Primeur wine futures), presenting a prime wine investment opportunity.

Why Is Rioja Underrated as an Investment Wine?

Though Rioja bottles are some of the world’s most age-worthy wines, their investment potential has been traditionally overlooked. 

Here are the reasons why Rioja wine investing has often been ignored by collectors:

• Mass Production: Rioja produces a large volume of fine wine each year (270 million liters), and the higher supply compared to demand makes sales difficult (even at low prices.) Also, the wines sold are recognized for the Rioja brand rather than the unique estate or terroir, undermining their investment potential. 
• Corporate Monopoly: The Rioja wine industry is monopolized by Grupo Rioja, an association of 55 big wine companies producing 75% of the region’s wines. 

These companies mass-produce and sell labels at low prices for marginal profits instead of focusing on wine quality. So, most Rioja bottles, sold at low rates, lose their investment potential in the fine wine market.

• Inter-Estate Conflicts: La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa are the two dominant sub-regions in the Basque province of Rioja, known for their flavorful labels. 

But the ongoing rivalry among producers from both regions threatens to split Rioja, damaging its prestige and its wines’ investment capacity.

• Undocumented Soil and Terroir Study: The Rioja wine region hasn’t released a documented study of its terroir or soil.

Rioja labels could be fine wine investment options if the region published a soil study, providing consumers with details about subzones, villages, and vineyards. A comprehensive study could boost demand and stimulate interest in Rioja’s investment wines. 

• Regional Wines: Most Rioja blends are produced using grapes from individual villages or vineyards. These commune-specific labels offer little vibrancy and character compared to the covetous, pan-regional Super Tuscan or Bordeaux wine blends. 

Elevate Your Investment Portfolio with a Collectible Rioja Wine

Rioja woos you with its dynamic, irresistible, and bold-flavored wines. But the region also presents rewarding opportunities to wine investors through its age-worthy Grand Reserva and Reserva labels. 

To enrich your wine collection with a profitable Rioja wine, sign up with Vinovest today and watch your portfolio grow.