Rioja at 100: Stick or Twist? Wine Blast podcast with Susie & Peter

NB: This is a free audio taster – the full episode is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS.

Summary

As Rioja turns 100, Spain’s most famous wine region finds itself at a crossroads.

Should it stick with tradition and what’s made it world famous?

Or should it adapt and innovate, in order to appease the modernists and face up to things like climate change and shifting consumer trends?

One memorable trip to Rioja and tons of tastings later, we sit down to get to grips with what Rioja even is these days, what it’s trying to do, what it’s getting right – and wrong.

And along the way we make sure to highlight and recommend the kind of Riojan wines and producers getting us excited.

This episode is packed full of information, insight and opinion on what is one of the world’s favourite wine regions – but which is changing fast.

So if you want to get the lowdown on the latest controversies and trends in Rioja, together with our top tips, sign up to Wine Blast PLUS to get the episode in full.

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Recommendations

Here’s a selection of both traditional and modern Rioja producers we currently rate:

Abel Mendoza
Arizcuren
Artuke
Bhilar
Carlos Mazo (Vinos en Voz Baja)
Carlos Sánchez
CVNE (inc Viña Real)
Dimittis
Don Sancho de Lodoño
Exopto
Finca Valpiedra
La Rioja Alta
LAN
Lanzaga
López de Haro
López de Heredia (inc Viña Tondonia)
Marqués de Murrieta
Marqués de Riscal
Miguel Merino
Navarrsotillo
Ostatu
Valcuerna
Victor Ausejo
Vignerons de la Sonsierra (José Gil)

A list of specific wine recommendations is available for our subscribers.

Links

One of our previous episodes we reference in the show is Going Gaga for Garnacha
Another is Wine Travel: The Inside Steer
The final one is We Need to Talk About Rosé
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