A lot has been happening in Rioja in the last few years with a new generation of producers opting for a different style or styles of wine. One in which the fruit is more expressive and the influence of American oak isn’t as prominent as it once was. Some are using French and Austrian oak and other fermentation and ageing vessels such as concrete tanks, amphorae and foudres. The seemingly set-in-stone rules regarding ageing periods in the crianza, reserva and gran reserva system are being called into question by some. Regarding grapes, the long-dominant Tempranillo is slowly giving way to revived local varieties such as Mazuelo, Graciano, Maturana and Garnacha. Another aspect of this seismic shift in winemaking are the brilliant white wines made with Viura, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca and Tempranillo blanco. While a tour of Rioja would never be complete without visiting the bodegas that put Rioja on the world map, our mission is to also introduce you to some of the individuals that are in our view the main protagonists of the so-called Rioja revolution, both in Rioja Alta and in the Rioja Alavesa (Basque Country).
