Rioja Wines: Tempranillo, Crianza, Reserva and White Rioja from Northern Spain

Crianza and Reserva, or Village and Single Vineyard?

The short answer is time or place. The traditional labels tell you how long a red was aged: Crianza for at least two years with one in oak, Reserva for at least three with one in oak, and Gran Reserva for at least five, with two in barrel and two in bottle.

Since 2017 the rules have also recognised single vineyards, alongside wines named after a zone or a village. Badiola, now known as Bideona, makes village wines from Leza, Laguardia and Villabuena in Rioja Alavesa.

Conde Valdemar shows the classic ladder side by side, from Crianza through Reserva to Gran Reserva.

Rioja Tempranillo, Garnacha and White Rioja

Tempranillo is the heart of red Rioja, with strawberry, cherry, leather and the vanilla and coconut notes of American oak. It is often blended with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo for warmth, colour and freshness.

Garnacha, known in Australia as Grenache, is most at home in the warmer east, where it leads the blend in Palacios Remondo's La Montesa. White Rioja is made mainly from Viura, crisp when young and nutty and complex with oak age.

Rioja Wine Brands in Our Range

Bodegas Valdemar traces its winemaking back to 1889 and offers Conde Valdemar from white and rosé to Gran Reserva. CVNE, founded in Haro in 1879 and known to many as Cune, adds its classic Reserva.

Telmo Rodríguez makes LZ and Lanzaga in Rioja Alavesa, and Palacios Remondo champions Garnacha in the east. Bodegas Roda, Alegre y Valgañón, Viña Olabarri and Badiola complete our selection.

Serving and Food Pairing

Serve the reds at 16 to 18 degrees and the whites lightly chilled. Crianza is lovely with tapas and chorizo, Reserva and Gran Reserva with roast lamb, and the whites with grilled fish.

What Kind of Wine Is Rioja? Your Questions, Answered

What kind of wine is a Rioja?

A wine from the region of the same name in northern Spain. Most are reds based on Tempranillo, but there are also white and rosé wines.

Is Rioja dry or sweet?

Most Rioja is dry. Ripe fruit and the vanilla notes of oak can make a young red taste soft, but there is little or no sugar left in the wine.

What is Rioja wine similar to?

With its red fruit, savoury character and fine tannins, red Rioja sits between Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in weight. Lovers of Sangiovese and medium bodied Shiraz usually enjoy it too.

Why Buy Rioja Wine at YourWines?

From a juicy young Tempranillo to a Gran Reserva for the cellar, you can buy Rioja wine online at a fair price, alongside the rest of our Spanish wine range.

Every wine is chosen by our team, available by the dozen or as a six-pack, and shipping is free Australia wide with a surcharge for WA, TAS and remote areas. For more bold reds from Spain, explore our Spanish red wine.