Rioja
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Rioja is a wine from a region named after the Rio Oja in Spain, a tributary of the Ebro. It is made from grapes grown in the provinces of La Rioja, Álava or Navarre.
The wine is a blend of various grapes varieties, and can be either red, white, or rosé. In red wines, the best-known variety used is tempranillo. Others grapes used include garnacha tinta, graciano, and mazuelo.
Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labeled "Rioja", is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which was in oak. "Rioja Reserva" is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, "Rioja Gran Reserva" wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessary produced each year.
Wine has been produced in the region since the Roman era of Hispania Tarraconensis. Rioja’s wine industry started within the monasteries founded to serve pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.
In 1925, Rioja was the first to be granted Denominación de Origen status; in 1991, the appellation was promoted to a Denominación de Origen Calificada due to its consistent quality.