Celebrate Rioja’s Century of Superior Wines
From Roman vines to modern sustainability methods, take a journey through this legendary Spanish DOCa – just in time for its 100th anniversary
Few wine regions capture the spirit of adventure quite like the historic Rioja. Nestled in northern Spain along the Ebro River and cradled by the Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Cantabria mountain ranges, this diverse region is naturally shielded from the cool Atlantic influences. Rioja’s warmer, drier climate also makes it a prime landscape for cultivating Tempranillo — the iconic grape at the heart of Spanish wine making — and for producing tannin-rich, full-bodied reds, as well as crisp, distinctive whites and sparkling blends reflective of the region’s depth and character.
In 1925, Rioja made history as Spain’s first officially recognized Denominación de Origen (DO). Decades later, in 1991, it also became the first to earn the prestigious DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada) designation. Today, Rioja and its three subregions — Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental — are home to no less than 600 wineries, 66,000 hectares of vineyards, and 14,000 dedicated winegrowers.
In honor of its 100th birthday, join us in a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and truly once-in-a-lifetime flavor!
Vinology in Rioja dates back to the Phoenicians, said to be among the first to recognize the science of grape fermentation.
11th Century BC
The Romans established the first vineyards near present-day Calahorra and Logroño to provide troops with sustenance and celebratory libations.
200 BC
Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims journeying along the legendary Camino de Santiago to the shrine of St. James passed through the Rioja region, and spoke reverently of its wines.
1400s
Rioja’s wines became so prized that in 1635, the mayor of Logroño banned street carts from passing near wine cellars, fearing that vibrations might compromise their quality. In 1650, regional winemakers established the first rules regulating wine production, setting a precedent for quality control that would become a hallmark of Rioja.
1500s-1600s
When the vineyards of neighboring France were devastated by phylloxera, merchants from Bordeaux turned to Rioja in search of fresher vines, bringing French winemaking techniques along with them. Though the region also eventually succumbed to the pests, this exchange still inspired Rioja’s enduring love affair with oak barriques — a trademark of Bordeaux winemaking — which significantly enhanced the aging potential of the wines. Once the threat of phylloxera was over, the signature aromas and flavors imparted by the oak became a characteristic of the Rioja style, lending both red and white wines depth and complexity.
1780s-1800s
As modern-day Rioja began to take shape in the late 19th century into the 20th, local vintners sought to define its identity and safeguard its quality. These efforts led to the official recognition of the Rioja Designation of Origin in June 1925, with the special seal of RIOJA beginning to appear on labels. Since then, seven additional grape varieties have been approved for use in making wines labeled under the Rioja Designation of Origin — four red (Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo/Cariñena, and Graciano) and three white (Viura/Macabeo, Malvasía, and Garnacha Blanca).
1925
The prized 1970 vintage marked a turning point for Rioja. Celebrated as the “vintage of the century” and ranked among the world’s finest by critics, its success sparked a surge in consumer demand. In 1974, Rioja introduced its Wine Aging Certification, and for the first time, the Regulatory Council implemented a mandatory seal to classify wines according to defined aging categories. Rather than simply identifying barrel-aged wines — as virtually all Rioja wines undergo some degree of barrel aging — the seal distinguished between levels of maturation, offering consumers clarity on how long a wine had been aged and under what conditions.
1970s
During this era, Rioja wines were officially classified into aging-based categories —Joven, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Vintage control, the requirement to verify and indicate the year the grapes were harvested, also became mandatory on labels.
1980s
Rioja became the first region in Spain to receive Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, officially recognized by Spain as its premier wine region. This milestone marked the start of a dynamic period of growth, innovation, and modernization in Rioja’s viticulture.
1991
The Bottling at Origin Mandate, a legal challenge questioning Rioja's requirement for bottling at origin (meaning, the geographic region of Rioja where the wine is produced), led to the mandate being upheld as a legitimate measure to protect Rioja's reputation and heritage.
2000
The white wine revolution arrived in Rioja with a wave of dynamic new winemakers and the introduction of more varied grape varieties, including Tempranillo Blanco, Viura, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, Maturana Blanca, Torrontés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo. Benefiting from the region's cooler vineyard zones, Rioja’s whites are top-quality and full-bodied, with medium to high acidity, and range from fresh and citrus-tinged young wines to those with more complexity and exceptional aging potential.
2008-2009
Rioja introduces new wine classifications, including Rioja Quality Sparkling Wine, and Viñedo Singular, which recognizes exceptional vineyards. Additionally, the Vino de Zona designation (first established in 1998) and the Vino de Municipio category became more clearly defined and enforced to further showcase Rioja’s diverse terroir.
2017
Rioja is leading the way in sustainable winemaking, aiming to become the world's “greenest” wine region. From organic farming to cutting-edge winery tech, Rioja is committed to preserving its land for future generations. Keeping things fresh, the winemakers in the region continue to explore with new methods, varieties, and seek new geographic labels — all enhancing the variety and depth of its wines.
As Rioja celebrates its 100th anniversary as a DOC region, it’s a tribute not only to tradition but also a nod to the innovation and sustainability shaping the next era of wine culture. From its ancient roots to taking bold new strides, Rioja masterfully blends the old with the new, crafting wines that are as rich in character as the region itself.
Here’s to Rioja’s past, present, and future — where every glass tells a story, and every sip honors a legacy that will captivate wine lovers for generations to come!
2025
