A few things I have learned during this visit to Rioja

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Robert McIntosh

Rioja vintage 2008 - and snow

Only a few and in no particular order …

Good things:

  • The red and gold colours of the tempranillo leaves at vintage can change dramatically quickly
  • Those who work in wineries can be genuinely passionate about their employer – it is like a proper family affair
  • I really love older Rioja wines – but is this style being lost?
  • You can get excellent lunches for little money – go for the daily “menu”
  • I really like Spanish coffee styles, particularly “cortado” (and not just because it makes me think of Palo Cortado sherry every time I order it)
  • There are more amazing different cuts of pork than any foreigner could ever imagine – and they all go well with Rioja wines

Bad things:

  • Rioja tourism is always going to suffer if the bodies of La Rioja and Alava do not do even more together – I just reaised I have to have two completely separate lists of wineries to check opening times and directions. Why? The international tourist won’t understand
  • I really hate bars with smoking
  • It can actually be quite wet and cold during vintage time in Rioja
  • Rioja and Logroño are a little short of things for visiting families to do during inclement weather
  • Spaniards may be sensible with alcohol during the week (“Continental Drinking Culture” and all that) but at weekends be prepared to be woken by homeward bound revellers any time between 3 and 6 am!
  • Spanish bars seem obsessed by 1980′s pop music
  • In Logroño, drive like you assume the vehicle in front of you is likely to jam on its breaks AT ANY SECOND in order to double-park, THEN turn on 4-way flashers

Some of these will inspire subsequent posts here and I will try and remember to add links as and when I do

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About Robert McIntosh

A wine lover who spends a lot of his time talking about wine and trying to get others to love wine too
This entry was posted in Tourism, Travel & Information and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • Bayard
    I read an answer to a blogger by Alyssa Rapp,the CEO of an online wine community called bottlenotes.. she says "When dealing with “pricier” wines, I think a hot “new” region is Rioja (though it’s not that new for industry folks, but for consumers, it’s starting to get a ton of press). you could check out -- http://www.bottlenotes.com/search/wine/?s=luis... if you want to buy wines from this region ..
  • Jenny Siddall
    Unfortunately the international tourist is not going to understand why they will have to get 2 separate maps and 2 winery guides for Rioja and Rioja Alavesa. As tourism initiatives are carried out by the separate autonomous governments from both communities / regions it looks like collaboration will be minimal as each government has a budget to promote their own assets and Rioja wine tourism will indeed suffer. A shame as both regions have some real gems which compliment each other. Fingers crossed for the future! I will however continue to offer wine tours combining Rioja and Rioja Alavesa.
  • I'm a big fan of Rioja wines myself. It is quite surprising they are not more popular.
  • I might suggest that you add the caveat that Rioja bars play 1980's English pop music, which makes the entire experience all the more surreal. And as for the bad, although this is true for much of Europe, underground parking spaces should have warning signs saying "you might get in, but there's no chance getting out of here buddy!" The spaces are not for normal sized European cars, I swear they were designed for Match Cars ;-)

    Gabriella Opazs last blog post..First Wine Print for Sale - Fall Vines in La Rioja, Spain
  • 1980's music is a must of most London pubs I've been too though!

    Julius
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