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La Rioja - Spain's Wine Capital
by Seb Jay
Descending from the foothills
of the Sierra del Moncayo in North East Spain is a - Spain's smallest region.
It is an area renowned for its natural beauty and, of course, for its wines.
Flanked by mountains to its north and south - and with the River Ebro running
through it - La Rioja benefits from a unique microclimate. The land here
is protected from cold winds and low temperatures, making it a very special
place in which to grow vines. Indeed, the first thing you notice on entering
the region is the uninterrupted view of vineyards that seem to spread across
the rolling countryside.
Three distinct wine-growing
areas exist in La Rioja. In the far east, and stretching across the regional
border into Navarra, is Rioja Baja. This is the hottest and driest part
of the region. The soils are also very fertile, making it a prime location
in which to grow the Garnacha grape.
Vineyard
on a Landscape, La Rioja, Cellorigo, Spain
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Coming westwards we find
the Rioja Alavesa region. Here the climate is moderated by cooler breezes
that descend from the mountains. The soils in Rioja Alavesa are of the
calcareous clay variety and lend themselves well to producing the finest
of La Rioja's red wines from the Tempranillo grape.
Rioja Alta is the third wine-growing
area in La Rioja. The climate here is much cooler and wetter owing to its
height and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The soil composition in Rioja
Alta is similar to that of Rioja Baja. It is the climate though that has
the biggest impact on wines from this area.
| Visiting La Rioja Wineries
As you might very well imagine,
La Rioja is packed full of wineries to visit. Logrono and Haro should top
the list, but don't ignore the more rural areas. Visitors can expect a
warm welcome at whichever winery is chosen.
Getting to La Rioja
Bilbao on the North Spanish
coast is the nearest international airport to La Rioja. From there the
region can be reached within a couple of hours. Closer in there are small
domestic airports. Vitoria and Zaragoza are both served by the international
airports at Madrid and Barcelona. Car hire can be booked in advance for
pick up at any of these airports by visiting www.your-carhire.com |
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