Bodegas Roda: rioja photos

Spanish Rioja wine is one of Spain's most famous and best-loved wines. It is produced in the La Rioja wine region in northern Spain, near the town of Logroño.

Rioja wine is made from different grape varieties, mainly Tempranillo, but also Grenache, Mazuelo and Graciano. Depending on the dominant grape variety and the style of wine desired, Rioja wine can be dry, semi-dry or sweet.

Rioja wines are renowned for their complex bouquet and long life. They are often aged in oak barrels, giving them a beautiful cherry-red colour and aromas of red fruit, spices and vanilla.

There are several categories of Rioja wine, which determine the minimum ageing time before the wine is sold. Rioja joven wines are the youngest, and are released less than a year after production. Rioja crianza wines are aged for at least two years, including one year in oak casks. Rioja reserva wines are aged for at least three years, including one year in oak casks. Finally, Rioja gran reserva wines are the oldest and are aged for at least five years, including two years in oak casks.