A harmonious and age-worthy splurge, the Beronia Rioja Gran Reserva. 95% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 1% Mazuelo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 27 months in French oak barrels plus another 36 months in bottle prior to release. It has just 1.9 g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
The Best Value Wines From Rioja
The Reverse Wine Snob picks for the best value (mostly under $20) wines from Rioja, including the ones to buy right now! Read on for our Guide to Rioja Wine.
Words like Reserva and Gran Reserva carry little meaning in many places in the winemaking world. Wineries are free to slap the label on a bottle for no other reason than marketing if they please.
In places like Rioja in Spain; however, that's definitely not the case. These terms actually carry strict regulations and thus mean something. And as a result, they offer a great guide to consumers as to what they can expect to find inside the bottle.
Specifically, here's what those terms mean in Rioja.
The Rioja Classification System
Genérico (Previously called Joven or Young wines)
Wines in their first or second year. There are no aging requirements.
Crianza wines
Wines which are at least in their third year, having spent a minimum of one year in casks and a few months in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum cask ageing period is 6 months.
Reserva wines
Selected wines of the best vintages that have been aged for a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year in casks. For white wines in Rioja, the minimum ageing period is 2 years, with at least 6 months in casks.
Gran Reserva wines
Selected wines from exceptional vintages which have spent at least 2 years in oak casks and 3 years in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 4 years, with at least one year in casks.
One other thing you'll notice in these regulations is the amount of time specified for wines to age in bottle. In what is a pretty unique situation in the wine world, Rioja as a whole has decided that they do not want to release their wines until they are ready to drink.
This doesn't mean the wines can't age well for a significantly long time after release, but it does mean that as a consumer you can be sure that that bottle of Rioja you buy this afternoon is going to taste great at dinner tonight, no additional aging required.
Click here to get a printable shopping list of our recommended wines!
As far as grapes go, Tempranillo is king here, but you'll also find plenty of Garnacha along with smaller amounts of Graciano, Mazuelo, Viura and Garnacha Blanca among others.
We love Rioja wines, so at Reverse Wine Snob we make an effort to taste as many as we can. Here then are all of our favorites that deliver tremendous value. And while they are mostly under $20, we also include a few over $20 "Saturday Splurges" that are definitely worth the higher price tag. Cheers!
Read on for our list of The Best Value Wines From Rioja!
Beronia Rioja Reserva - Brilliant
A mastery of oak imparted flavors, we check out the latest vintage of the Bodegas Beronia Rioja Reserva. 93% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano and 1% Mazuelo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 18 months in French and American oak barrels and another 18 months in bottle prior to … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva - Costco Scores Again
Revisiting this real deal Rioja Reserva aged 30 months in oak barrels, the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva. 100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged 30 months in oak barrels and another 6 months in bottle before release. … [Read more...]
Cerro Anon Rioja Crianza - Overhyped?
A hyped up wine at a great Costco price, but does it deliver? We review the Cerro Anon Rioja Crianza from Bodegas Olarra. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano from Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alto in Spain. The wine was aged 14-15 months in a mixture of new and used … [Read more...]
Faustino Crianza Rioja - Fresh and Juicy
A young, fresh and tasty wine from Rioja, the Bodegas Faustino Crianza. Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 12 months in American oak barrels. … [Read more...]
Beronia Crianza - Fresh and Easy
A lighter touch from Rioja, the Bodegas Beronia Crianza. 94% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha and 1% Mazuelo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 12 months in mixed oak barrels of American staves and French tops and another 3 months in bottle before release. It has just 1.5 g/L of … [Read more...]
Palacios Remondo La Montesa – Darn Good Garnacha
An excellent Costco find made from Rioja's other big red grape, the Palacios Remondo La Montesa. 92% Garnacha plus 8% Tempranillo and Mazuelo from vines with an average age of 31 years in eastern Rioja, Spain. This Rioja Crianza wine is aged for 12 months in barrel before … [Read more...]
Javier San Pedro Randez Tempranillo - Trader Joe's Strikes Again
A quality wine from Rioja at a budget price, the Javier San Pedro Randez Tempranillo. Bulk Buy! 100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged for 12 months in new and semi-new American and French oak and has just 1.6 g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
Hidalgo Tradicion H Gran Reserva Rioja - Top-Notch
New Costco Pick! A 2010 Gran Reserva from Rioja for just $15, the Hidalgo Tradicion H Gran Reserva Rioja. 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha from 70 year-old bush vines in San Asencio, Rioja Alta, Spain. The wine spends at least 36 months in French (30%) and … [Read more...]
CVNE Cune Rioja Reserva - Drink Away!
A splurge no more thanks to a great Costco price, the CVNE Cune Rioja Reserva. 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha Tinta from Rioja Alta, Spain. The wine spent 18 months in 225L American and French oak barrels and another 18 months in bottle before … [Read more...]
Marques de Caceres Crianza - More Classic Rioja
Why should Reserva wines get all the love? The Marques de Caceres Crianza Rioja. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha Tinta and 5% Graciano from 15-25 year old vines in Rioja (85% Rioja Alta and 15% Rioja Alavesa), Spain. The wine is aged for 12 months in French (60%) and … [Read more...]
La Gitana Gold Rioja Reserva – Gold Indeed
A $50 SRP for only $11.99. Costco delivers another killer Rioja Reserva, the La Gitana Gold Rioja Reserva. Bulk Buy! Tempranillo from from 60 year-old vines in Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 28 months in American oak plus another 12 months in the bottle before release. … [Read more...]
Marques de Caceres Reserva – Classic Rioja
Savory, grippy and delicious, the Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha Tinta and 5% Graciano from 25-35 year old vines in Rioja (85% Rioja Alta and 15% Rioja Alavesa), Spain. The wine spends 20 months in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% 2nd … [Read more...]
Montebuena Rioja - Good Stuff
Soft, smooth and tasty $10 Rioja from Bodegas y Vinedos Labastida, the Montebuena Rioja. 100% Tempranillo from Rioja Alavesa, Spain. The wine spends 3 months in used American oak. … [Read more...]
Burgo Viejo Rioja Crianza - Oak On Overload
And I like it! The Burgo Viejo Crianza from Rioja, Spain. 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 12 months in American oak barrels. … [Read more...]
Lopez de Haro Rioja Reserva - A First-Rate Rioja
Another Rioja Reserva that delivers a lot more taste than its $12 price tag. The Lopez de Haro Rioja Reserva is 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 20 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. … [Read more...]
Vivanco Rioja Crianza - Well-Rounded
From the label to the bottle itself to the wine inside the Vivanco Rioja Crianza has a lot of nice things going on. 100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 16 months in previously used French and American oak barrels followed by another 6 months in bottle … [Read more...]
Carlos Serres Reserva - Silky Smooth Rioja Goodness
The highly satisfying Carlos Serres Reserva at a great Costco price. 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano from 30 year old vines in the Finca El Estanque vineyard in Haro, Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged for 24 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels and then a … [Read more...]
La Rioja - A Spanish Region That Is A Feast For The Senses!
The wines from Rioja, Spain are some of our most recommended here at Reverse Wine Snob. And while those wines are a great find at your local shop, there's nothing quite like tasting them right where they are made. That's why we're happy to present today's sponsored from GoEuro on … [Read more...]
Vivanco Rioja Reserva - A Work of Art
The Vivanco Rioja Reserva, a beauty inside and outside the bottle. 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged for 24 months in 50% new and 50% previously-used French oak, followed by 4 months in large French oak vats for better integration of flavors. … [Read more...]
La Tercera Rioja Reserva - Buy a Boatload!
The La Tercera Rioja Reserva, it doesn't get much better than this 2010 Rioja Reserva for less than 10 bucks! 90% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha and 5% Graciano from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged for 30 months in French oak barrels. … [Read more...]
Maetierra Dominum QP Quatro Pagos Reserva Rioja - Quadruply Good
The Maetierra Dominum QP Quatro Pagos Reserva Rioja, made from four distinct estates in Rioja. 87% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano and 4% Garnacha Tinta from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged 16 months in new French oak barrels. … [Read more...]
Vaza Crianza - A Match Made in Heaven
The Tempranillo grape and oak barrels, made to go together. 100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. Aged in French and American oak barrels for at least 12 months. This is a dry red wine with just 1.9g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
Vaza Tempranillo - A Winning Bottle
Highly recommended Tempranillo from Rioja for around $10! 100% Tempranillo from Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, Spain. Fermented in stainless steel, this wine does not spend any time ageing in oak. … [Read more...]