Rioja is Spain's most prolific wine region encompassing a total of 57,000 cultivated hectares. Situated just south of the Cantabrian Mountains along the Ebro river, La Rioja benefits from a more continental climate with the surrounding mountains protecting the vineyards from harsh winds. It is the red wines that have earned this region its notoriety.
Rioja comes in 4 distinct categories. Joven is young and spends less than a year in oak. Crianza is aged for 2 years spending at least one in Oak. Reserva is aged for 3 years with at least one in oak and Gran Reserva must be aged at least 2 years in oak and 3 in bottle to earn the status. Rioja holds their wines to strict standards which guarantees high quality and reliability.