La Rioja Alta is the most prestigious winery from the Rioja wine region in Spain. The winery was founded in 1890 by 5 families of connaisseurs that wanted to come up with an alternative for the Bordeaux wines. Back then, Bordeaux vineyards were hit hard by phylloxera. La Rioja Alta is famous worldwide for its top quality red wines. Most of these red wines are produced from grape varieties such as Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano.

Rioja Wines

Rioja is Spain's most famous wine region. Divided into three subregions - Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental - each with their unique characteristics, Rioja produces predominantly red wines from Tempranillo and Garnacha. Barrel-aging is almost mandatory in Rioja, so look for these terms on labels: Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva. Crianza being the least expensive is consequently the most produced. As for white wines Malvasia was Rioja's favourite but now the emphasis shifted to Viura.

Graciano Wines

Graciano is a black-skinned grape from Spain that is mostly cultivated in Navarra and Rioja Spanish wine regions. Graciano wines are tannic, deeply coloured and with intense aromas of mulberry, violets and chocolate. The variety is greatly popular in the classic Rioja blends along with Tempranillo and Garnacha. In Rioja blends these notes are followed by vanilla and sweet spices, since most of the red wines are aged in oak barrels.