The Rioja wine region, nestled on a plateau in the northeastern corner of Spain, is a land of rich history, diverse terroirs, and unparalleled viticultural traditions. Spanning an altitude range of 300 to 800 meters, Rioja's landscape stretches approximately 60 miles along the northeastern banks of the Ebro River, from the enchanting city of Haro, in the northwest, to the picturesque town of Alfaro, in the southeast. This geographical diversity, coupled with its unique climatic conditions and political boundaries, contributes to the region's remarkable array of wines, each bearing the unmistakable stamp of Rioja's terroir.
In the last couple decades, the US market has grabbed ahold of Spanish wines. Starting with the most-grown grapes, which include Tempranillo, Grenache, Verdejo, and Albariño. You would think that these grapes came into existence in the normal way of propagating two different varietals by crossing to produce a new grape. This is no different than when Sauvignon Blanc was crossed with Cabernet Franc to produce Cabernet Sauvignon.
With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, everyone is anxiously awaiting the kickoff to the summer season. Not officially, of course, but most think of it as the gateway into warmer weather, trading the long sleeves for tank tops, packing up the thermals, and opting for a cool drink instead of a hand and body warmer.
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and most of us instantly think chocolate when we hear wine and truffles, right? Well, this could be the proverbial chocolate-and-wine-pairing blog, and don’t get me wrong, chocolate and wine is good, but let’s put a spin on it this year, and sip and savor.
There was a time when wine aficionados turned their noses up at any wine in anything but a glass bottle. But the times, they are a-changin’. The boxed wine section of the market, along with other types of packaging is garnering greater attention and acceptance.
