La Rioja
Rioja is today the most famous wine region in Spain. Its northernmost vineyards are located in the neighboring regions of Navarre and the Basque Country. The region is demarcated by geographical features which are the Ebro river and the Cantabria mountain ranges. These mountains, which border Rioja from the north and west, offer shelter from the cold and humid influences of the Atlantic Ocean which provides a warmer and drier climate than that of the north. Rioja can be divided into 3 zones:
→ Rioja Alta is the western part of Rioja. As the name suggests, the vineyards are located at higher altitudes. The soils contain more clay, iron and alluvial elements and less limestone than those in the neighboring Alavesa region. The wines tend to be considered elegant with balanced acidity.
→ Rioja Alavesa is made up of two distinct enclaves of land adjacent to Rioja Alta. Although they are both located in the Rioja zone, they are not part of La Rioja, but rather of the Basque province of Alava. The vineyards are located at similar altitudes to Rioja Alta, and the macroclimate is similar. The soils tend to be more calcareous than in Rioja Alta and the wines can have greater acidity.
→ Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja) is the eastern part of the Rioja zone. The climate there is much more strongly influenced by the Mediterranean. Drier and warmer than the other two regions, Garnacha is more highlighted there. The wines can be significantly more robust than those from other sub-regions. Most of the region is south of the Ebro, in the La Rioja region. However, in the eastern zone, the Rioja vineyards north of the river are actually within the political boundaries of Navarra.
