Northern Spain's Wine Country

Rioja Alavesa
A small region, about the size of Delaware, Rioja is divided into three sub-areas, each with its own character: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, and Rioja Alavesa. The smallest and highest part of Rioja, Rioja Alavesa enjoys an ideal climate, with the heat of the Mediterranean moderated by cooler Atlantic breezes from the east. Tempranillo vines flourish at these temperatures in the chalky limestone soils, producing grapes with high acidity and well-concentrated flavor. The wines from this sub-region are of exceptional caliber, noted for their aromatic, rich, and fruity quality.

Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja
The Alta region produces the full-bodied wine that forms the basis of most red Riojas on the market today. Rioja Baja produces fatter, more alcoholic wines.

Galicia - D.O. Ribeiro
Located along the Atlantic coast, Galicia has a very wet climate with an average rainfall of more than 50 inches a year. This, combined with long sunny days, contributes to the high amount of humidity where the native varieties thrive. The majority of the area's vineyards are found in the south of the region in the provinces of Ourense and Pontevedra, though there are some significant plantings in Lugo to the east. The Serra dos Ancares mountain range forms the border with Castile and León to the east and the Minho River forms part of the regions border with Portugal to the south.