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Nestled between the magnificent Sierra de Cantabria and Sierra de la Demanda mountain ranges, and hugging both banks of the winding Ebro River, Rioja is a renowned wine region in northern Spain. It’s a place where wine isn’t just a commodity — it’s a way of life.
Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region, with the most award-winning wines of any D.O. in Spain. It’s known for its aged reds, with tempranillo as a shining example. Indigenous to Spain, this versatile grape is best expressed in Rioja, with elegance and quality in young, aged, classic and modern wines. It’s not all reds though — Rioja grows 14 permitted grape varieties, from whites and rosés to sparkling.
In addition to the different grape varieties, Rioja also offers diversity in how long its wines are aged. With the least amount of aging, a Genéric is a young wine that’s going to retain its fresh and fruity character. Pair it with cheese or a simple pasta. This term can also refer to a wine that hasn’t been categorized by the control board.
A little older, a Crianza is a wine in its third year, and has spent at least six months in oak for whites and rosés, or one year for reds. These wines can stand up to heartier dishes like lasagna and burgers.
Rioja’s signature Reserva wines offer soft tannins and luscious flavour. Reds are aged for at least three years, with one year in barrel and six months in bottle. A Reserva based on tempranillo will have smooth flavours of dark fruit and vanilla. Whites and rosés are aged for two years, with at least six months spent in barrel. Red, white or rosé, these wines are perfect for savouring with richer meals.
Gran Reserva wines are aged for much longer, spending more time in the barrel and bottle. Reds are aged for at least five years, while whites and rosés are aged for at least four. These are exceptional, quality wines that will pair excellently with special occasions.
Rioja offers a diverse range of wines that are all worth discovering in this beautiful region that’s ripe for wine tourism, or at home from local restaurants, bars or LCBO.
Three Essential Truths
In Rioja, wine is everything
Winemaking is quintessential to Rioja’s identity and its rich history. Not only is it the region’s main source of income, it’s tied to everything they do. In its 2,000-year winemaking legacy, Rioja informed the palates of generations of wine drinkers in Spain and introduced international markets to Spanish winemaking. With the largest surface area of centenary vineyards in Spain, it’s the country’s leading wine tourism destination.
Rigour and excellence
Rioja’s rigorous approach leads it to be one of the top wine regions internationally for quality, traceability and transparency, and a role model for Spain’s other wine-growing regions. By only releasing ready to drink expressions, Rioja has gained international admiration and trust for being a safe, consistent and elegant choice.
100 kilometres of diversity
Flanked by the Sierra de Cantabria and the Sierra de la Demanda mountain ranges, and extending to both sides of the Ebro River, Rioja is a magical enclave for high-quality wine production. It’s a melting pot of climates, valleys, villages, landscapes and grape varieties, along with colours and styles of wine. Its 14 permitted grape varieties offer innumerable expressions and nuances.
Centennial Celebration of Rioja
This year marks 100 years since Rioja was officially recognized as a Designation of Origin.
In 2025, The Designation of Origin Rioja (D.O.) celebrates 100 years. In 1925, Rioja was granted Spain’s first, and the oldest, D.O. status, but the region’s winemaking history goes back much further than that.
Archaeological evidence of winemaking in the region dates back as early as 200 BC, with the ancient Romans. Since then, the legacy of winemaking in what is now Rioja has continued to evolve, being nurtured and cultivated by each generation. Wine isn’t just a commodity or an export here; in Rioja, wine is everything. It’s a way of life that’s woven into the very fabric of the region.
Rioja’s rich history of winemaking acts as a bridge between honouring the past and looking to the future. It pays homage to age-old tradition while marrying it with modern innovation and technology. Utilizing organic farming practices and state-of-the-art facilities, Rioja is at the forefront of sustainable winemaking. Since the early days, its winemakers have been pioneers, forging new ground.
Visiting Rioja is like stepping into a living wine museum — each of its beverages are cultural artifacts, telling a piece of this 2,000-year-old story.
For a century, Rioja has been wholly dedicated to winemaking, upholding the most rigorous standards as an official Designation of Origin since 1925.
Where to find Rioja wine in the GTA
Wines from Rioja are available at Toronto bars and restaurants, the LCBO and from wine agencies.
Rioja exports the most Spanish wine, and is present in 136 countries, with Canada in the top eight. Between Toronto restaurants and wine bars, the LCBO and private importers like All the Right Grapes and WineOnline.ca, it’s easy to find Rioja wine in the GTA.
While Rioja might be most well-known for its reds, there are 14 authorized grape varieties grown in the region: five red and nine white. Tempranillo is the star grape and accounts for 80 per cent of the surface area in Rioja, so you may see more expressions of this grape in Toronto.
Red fruit and delicate herbal notes blend in this sustainable wine made with tempranillo and garnacha.
Savour this deep, dark and spicy blend of tempranillo, graciano and mazuelo with charred meat off the BBQ.
This quality, aged red is bursting with notes of vanilla, cedar and strawberries.
Private imports
Rioja wines are available directly from wine agencies.
Artuke Pies Negros 2022
Derek Kranenborg
Founder, owner and operator, All the right grapes
“Garnering lots of accolades, this winery focuses on the purity of their grapes, and a low-intervention approach to winemaking. Pies Negros is their flagship wine, made of tempranillo with a little graciano. Aged in older oak (French), it is fresh, with lots of character and complexity.”
Bodegas Classica El Pacto Tinto 2010
Jonny Bick
CEO, wineonline.ca
“This is a spellbinding, sumptuously flavoured knockout. It’s captivating on the nose with berries, hints of spice and chocolate. The palate is where it really shines: bold with great balance, full-bodied, but with silk-like tannins. This is a shining example of how Spain has breathed new life into the ancient past.”
Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2020
Kevin Pogacar
Brand Manager, Rogers & Company
“Made primarily from tempranillo, with graciano, mazuelo and garnacha, this wine offers vibrant notes of ripe blackberries, red cherry and warm spices. Silky tannins, a touch of vanilla and smoky earthiness add depth, creating a wine that is both structured and inviting.”
Sommelier Serves
Toronto sommeliers recommend these excellent Rioja wines, available at local bars and restaurants.
Arashasp Shroff, General Manager & Director of Wine, Abrielle Toronto
Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum blanco, 2021
“What makes the Ad Libtum truly exceptional is its blend of elegance and boldness. It offers a deep, expressive bouquet of ripe peach and apricot complemented by subtle nuttiness and herbal notes. Ad Libtum uses carefully selected grapes and unique aging techniques that contribute to its complex flavour profile of tempranillo blanco. I love to use the Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libtum with our grilled Spanish octopus. Its structure and complexity make it a fantastic match for rich, flavourful seafood.”
George E. Fellows, Beverage Director Bar Isabel
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco, 2001
“López de Heredia’s white wines cracked open my mind when I first encountered them. This cuvée, of which fewer than 25 vintages have been bottled since the winery was founded in 1877, is a testament to patience, spending 10 years in old American oak barrels before many more in bottle prior to release. With a heady array of aromas ranging from earthy mushroom to beeswax on the palate, there is a depth, elegance and complexity that very few in the world of wine ever manage to achieve.”
Heather McDougall, Owner / Sommelier, Sips Toronto
Nivarius Edición Limitada, 2019
“The Nivarius Edición Limitada white blend (viura/maturana blanca) had me at hello. It was textured, complex, food friendly, bottle aged and damn delicious. Coming in sub $30, I immediately started using it in events, gifting packages and built tastings around it. The more I learned about the wine, the more I loved it. The rabbit hole this wine opened had me buying every white Rioja I could get my hands on. My love affair with these wines culminated in me visiting the region.”
Andrew McArthur, Head Sommelier, BlueBlood Steakhouse / Liberty Ent. Group
Moraza Vino de San Vicente de la Soncierra
“For the Rioja faithful, Bodegas Moraza’s unoaked Rioja is a welcome surprise. It is a great example of how a region deeply rooted in tradition can still impress with innovation. For the uninitiated, it marks an approachable gateway to the wines of the region: organic, biodynamic, endlessly pairable and representing one of the best quality to price ratios of any wine listed. The versatility of this bottle finds it as welcome with our 35-day dry-aged Ontario striploin as with our organic roasted hen.”
