Where would you open a bottle of Rioja?
Rioja wineries export nearly four hundred million bottles a year to countries as diverse as China, the United States, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain... If you could choose a place to live the experience of drinking a good Rioja wine , Which one would you choose?
You may have hesitated a bit but Don't you think that the best place to drink a Rioja wine would be Rioja itself? In this way you would enjoy the wine knowing the fields where it is born and the landscapes that protect their vines , you will be able to walk its paths, its oenological routes and discover the art and historical heritage of a unique land, famous for its gastronomy but also for the friendly and cheerful character of its people.
THE RIOJA
The Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin is the oldest in Spain, the first to obtain the Qualification Qualified and with more than six hundred wineries , forms one of the most valued and recognized wine production centers in the world.
If you could choose a place to live the experience of drinking a good Rioja wine, which one would you choose?
The quality of its wines is indisputable , not in vain sink their roots in centuries of tradition. Everything indicates that the Romans were the first to promote the oenological possibilities of this land enriched by the waters and the Mediterranean climate of the banks of the Ebro and its tributaries, such as the Oja River, possible etymological origin of the region and of the wine itself.
Now, it would be a mistake to think that Rioja wine is limited to Autonomous Community of La Rioja . Actually this D.O.Ca. It also covers large areas of the Basque Country, Navarre and even a small piece of land Castile and Leon . These territories largely correspond to the three major divisions of the denomination: Rioja Alta, Alavesa and Oriental.
As we have pointed out, this space is geographically linked to the Ebro River and its tributaries, although historically we should rather understand it under the expansive influence of the ancient Kingdom of Navarre.
Thus, the territory that we see today, peaceful and beautiful, was for centuries a space of border and fights between the kings of León, Navarre and Castile , which has formed the monumental profile of some of its towns, castles and churches, as evidenced by municipalities such as Laguardia, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Sajazarra, Viana or Nájera.
San Vicente de La Sonsierra in the background, La Rioja
WINE IS KING
After the warlike years between those monarchs of yesteryear, the territory occupied by the D.O.Ca Rioja today proclaims, to the wine, as their true king. A peaceful king who, except for some battles such as the Haro wine battle, he knows how to extend his domains through the channels of quality and commercial success , convincing and conquering followers in all corners of the globe.
The arms of this monarch are the Young wines, Crianzas, Reservas and Gran Reservas in addition to the wines of the area, town and unique vineyards of the region. And also its wide variety of types since in its offer, although predominantly reds , there is no lack of famous white and pink . Rioja wines are elegant, structured and noble, and have achieved well-deserved fame for their good aging capacity.
LAND OF ROADS
But along with the quality of its wines, the success of the Riojas is also due to another important territorial factor. is this a land of passage, meeting and communication . The traces of the ancient Roman roads, the traffic and the crossing of the ** Caminos de Santiago ,** the primitive railways and the modern transport infrastructures are nothing but palpable evidence that this is an interconnected space. Thanks to that, he Rioja winemakers have been able to export their wines thousands of kilometers away.
But let's not forget that every road is a round trip and although the wineries export their precious liquids through these routes, hundreds of travelers arrive every year through them willing to visit this fertile land.
Travel to the land of wine
Wine tourism is today a true economic engine and for this reason, all the municipalities and wineries in the region are concerned and know how to take care, as in few other places, of all those who come here to discover and enjoy the wine and its surroundings.
Travel to the lands of Rioja, get to know its different cultivation areas, get to know the fields and the people who make this wonderful miracle of the grape and drink, drink with joy and passion this wine of universal fame.
And so, getting to know the whys and wherefores of this appellation firsthand, the next time they are anywhere in the world they may be encouraged to order a bottle of Rioja because when they open it they will not only enjoy the quality of an exceptional wine but also with the memories and evocations of a beautiful land.