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    Rioja

    Spain

    Almost 100 kilometres along the Ebro, where Atlantic and Mediterranean climates meet, and time in oak is written on the label.

    30–50° N30–50° SequatorRioja
    Country
    Spain
    Rocks in the profile
    alluvium, clay, limestone

    Three zones, three soils

    Rioja stretches almost 100 kilometres from west to east along both banks of the Ebro, with vineyards up to about 900 metres.1 Rioja Alta mixes clay-limestone, ferrous clay and alluvial soils.2 In Rioja Alavesa 95% of the soils are clay-limestone.3 Rioja Oriental has ferrous clay and alluvial soils, red with iron and lower in limestone.4

    alluviumclaylimestone
    Schematic profile based on the sources, not to scale.

    Two climates meet here, Atlantic and Mediterranean.1 Lower-lying Rioja Oriental is drier and warmer.4

    Time written on the label

    Category (red)Minimum total ageingOf which
    Crianza2 years
    Reserva3 yearsat least 1 in oak and 6 months in bottle
    Gran Reserva5 years

    5

    Tempranillo and Garnacha are among the authorised red grapes.6 How wood changes wine is told on the oak ageing page.

    Timeline

    1. 1925

      The Rioja Designation of Origin is born.7

    2. 1991

      Rioja becomes Spain's first Qualified Designation of Origin (DOCa).7

    Grapes

    Soils

    Sources

    1. Production areas. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Rioja Alta. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Rioja Alavesa. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Rioja Oriental. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Classification. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    6. Grape varieties. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    7. History. Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13