Rioja is the most important Spanish wine region to know as a consumer. It will be the most prominent Spanish wine region you come across in wine shops.
Rioja Wine History
Tenzing: The History, Grapes, and Wines of Rioja (particularly good and concise history lesson)
Rioja Terroir
Winesearcher: Rioja
Catavino: Rioja Terroir and the Three Regions
Winesearcher News: Terroir Winning the Battle in Rioja
Rioja Trade: Educational Materials (a ton of resources here, including rainfall and soil maps)
Jancis Robinson: Rioja Vintages
Rioja Grapes
Winesearcher: Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha
Rioja Aging Laws
Wine Folly: Rioja Gets A New Classification System
Riojawine: Classification System (with images of the official labels used by the producers)
Food and Wines of Spain: It’s Official: New Rioja Classifications
Our two favorite producers
Both of these are part of the ‘traditionalists’ of Rioja and both are amazing. Conveniently, in the city of Haro the two wineries are right next to each-other, making for an easy way to visit both.
Check out the video below to see one of the most historic cellars in all of the wine world!
Viña Tondonia Lopez de Heredia