Rioja Red Wine: Grapes, Food Pairings, 10 Best Bottles To Buy (2024)

Hailing from the best wine regions of northern Spain, Rioja red wines are admired for their refined tannins, fruity character, and spice notes.

These extraordinary wines are made mainly from Tempranillo and other grapes like Garnacha and Mazuelo. The finest bottles carry incredible aging potential and would make a great addition to your cellar!

Let’s check out Rioja red wine in detail - the grapes used in these wines, wine classification, 10 best wines to buy now, and food pairings.

We’ll also discover how the wines are produced and the Rioja red wine subregions.

The Main Grape Varieties Used In Rioja Red Wine

Here are the famous grape varieties used in Rioja red wines:

• Tempranillo: The Tempranillo grape is Rioja’s flagship variety. Rioja red wines made from Tempranillo boast red fruit flavors, supple tannins, and a velvety texture.
• Garnacha: Garnacha is grown extensively in the Rioja Oriental (Rioja Baja) subregion. This grape adds body, fruitiness, raspberry flavors, and spice notes to Rioja red wines.
• Mazuelo: The Mazuelo grape variety is sometimes added to a Rioja red wine blend to add color and red fruit aromas.
• Graciano: This grape variety is often added to the blend to provide perfume and structure.
• Maturana Tinta: This purple grape variety is added to the blend for its spicy notes, juicy acidity, and crisp minerality.

Rioja Red Wine Classification

Red Rioja wines are divided into four classification levels depending on the wine aging period. Here are the classification levels:

• Genérico (Joven): These wines have no minimum aging requirements and are usually sold in the first or second year after harvest. About 40% of Rioja wines fall under this classification.
• Crianza: Rioja Crianza wines should spend a minimum of one year in an oak barrel and a few months in the bottle before they’re sold.
• Reserva: These red Rioja wines are made using the best grapes harvested during a good growing season. A typical Rioja Reserva wine should be aged for a minimum of three years - at least one year in an oak barrel and the rest in the bottle.
• Gran Reserva: These wines are made with high-quality grapes harvested in exceptional growing seasons. They should be aged for a minimum of two years in an oak barrel and three years in the bottle before release.

10 Best Rioja Red Wine Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here are the finest Rioja red wines to check out in 2024:

1. 2004 Bodegas Contador - Benjamin Romeo 'Contador'
2. 2011 Sierra Cantabria 'Magico'
3. 1998 Bodegas Roda Cirsion
4. 2016 Alvaro Palacios Quinon de Valmira
5. 2017 Bodega Lanzaga 'Las Beatas'
6. 1987 La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904
7. 1999 R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva
8. 2001 Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva
9. 1982 La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Ardanza Reserva
10. 1996 Marques de Riscal Reserva

1. 2004 Bodegas Contador - Benjamin Romeo 'Contador' ($2,487)

This red Rioja wine bottle opens with supple tannin, dark fruit aromas, and red fruit flavors with vanilla, cinnamon, spice, and plum notes.

2. 2011 Sierra Cantabria 'Magico' ($808)

This red Rioja wine has a velvety texture, berry fruit aromas, and dark fruit flavors with subtle vanilla, spice, and tropical fruit notes. 

3. 1998 Bodegas Roda Cirsion ($527)

This Rioja wine boasts ripe fruit aromas, crisp minerality, and a sweet dark fruit flavor with caramel, vanilla, and plum notes.

4. 2016 Alvaro Palacios Quinon de Valmira ($410)

This Rioja wine bottle opens with supple tannin, earthy minerality, ripe berry aromas, and red fruit flavors with spice notes.

5. 2017 Bodega Lanzaga 'Las Beatas' ($367)

This Spanish red wine has complex red berry aromas, fine tannins, crisp minerality, and a red cherry flavor with citrus notes.

6. 1987 La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904 ($90)

This Rioja Gran Reserva wine has subtle acidity, red fruit aromas, and fresh berry fruit flavors with vanilla, cinnamon, and plum notes. 

7. 1999 R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva ($88)

This Rioja Reserva wine bottle opens with a fine texture, tropical fruit aromas, and red fruit flavors with licorice and spice notes. 

8. 2001 Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva ($77)

This Rioja Gran Reserva wine has dried fruit aromas, subtle acidity, and red berry flavors with cinnamon and cedarwood notes. 

9. 1982 La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Ardanza Reserva ($71)

This medium-bodied Rioja Reserva wine has supple tannins, crisp acidity, ripe berry aromas, and a dried cherry flavor with plum and spice notes. 

10. 1996 Marques de Riscal Reserva ($65)

This Spanish wine bottle has juicy acidity, red flower aromas, and red berry flavors with oak, vanilla, and spice notes. 

Food Pairings With Rioja Red Wines

The fine acidity in red Rioja wines makes them excellent for pairing with various dishes. Younger wines, Rioja Genérico and Rioja Crianza wines, pair well with poultry, veal, and cheese.

Meanwhile, Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva wines complement hearty vegetable stews and grilled red meat.

How Is Rioja Red Wine Produced?

In a gist, this is how red Spanish wine from the Rioja region is made:

• The grape stems are removed before fermentation, or the grapes undergo carbonic maceration (fermentation with stems.)
• After fermentation, the red wine is aged in French and American oak barrels for 1-3 years and a further 6+ months in the bottle before release.

Rioja Red Wine Subregions

Here are the famous Rioja red wine subregions:

• Rioja Alta: The La Rioja Alta subregion has a shorter growing season, thanks to its high elevation and the cool, Atlantic climate. La Rioja Alta has clay, alluvial, and limestone soils that help produce juicy, succulent grapes.
• Rioja Alavesa: The Rioja Alavesa subregion lies in the beautiful Basque Country, and is surrounded by River Ebro and the Cantabrian mountain range. This region’s fine terroir comprises microclimates that help grow fresh and acidic grapes. 
• Rioja Oriental (Rioja Baja): The Rioja Oriental subregion is influenced by a Mediterranean climate - making it the warmest and driest subregion in Rioja. Rioja Oriental comprises fertile, chalky soils suited for growing Garnacha grapes.

Pick A Delicious Rioja Red Wine For Your Cellar

If you’re looking to indulge in a fine, Spanish red, look no further than Rioja red wine.

Younger red Rioja wines are lighter in style and should be drunk young. Meanwhile, older Rioja reds display developed flavors and are suitable for long-term cellaring.

You can cellar the finest red Rioja wines, such as the Reserva and Gran Reserva bottles, for 30+ years!

If you want to invest in the finest Rioja red wines, sign up on the Vinovest website. With Vinovest, you can easily buy, store, and sell authentic white wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and other wine bottles from across the globe.