This wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of Navarre and La Rioja, and the Basque province of Alava. The most famous Spanish wine on the American market, Rioja is made from the blend of grape varieties, i.e. with Tempranillo, which is the dominant grape.
Rioja is a small region in Spain, which is famous for producing many of the country’s finest red wines. The region is divided into three areas i.e. Rioja Alta (the highest elevation, producing lighter wines), Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja (area with a warmer climate, producing full bodied reds and wines with a higher alcohol content).
Calories in a Bottle of Red Wine
There are 158 calories in a 1/4 bottle serving of Rioja red wine and 635 calories in one full bottle of wine. In the average bottle of wine there are 25.4 ounces (750 milliliter). Since one ounce of white wine or dry red wine has about 25 calories.
Wine Nutrition facts of Rioja
In about 158 calories there are 5g of Carbs, 0 percent of Fat and 0 percent of Protein. The sodium value is 8mg
Is Rioja a most Healthy Wine?
Rioja has high fiber Tempranillo red grapes which are used to make variety of red wines. This may actually have a significant effect on cholesterol levels, according to a study from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain. So there are many good reasons to drink this wine and therefore considered the best healthy wine. Participants with high cholesterol experienced a drop of 12 percent who consumed the same grape supplement found in red wine.
Rioja Wine Taste
The wine is known for its tannins and structure, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but is also has a fruity characteristic. This is a perfect wine for a drinker who loves Cabernet but is also looking for the dominant cherry flavor that is often present in a wine like Pinot Noir.
Tempranillo grapes are used to produce great red Spanish Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines and dry red wines of the Douro in Portugal and therefore is the popular dry Red wine varieties. The grapes can make wines of different styles from light to fruity full bodied, wines with great tannins.
Rioja Wine Pairing
This wine is known for its easier drinking Tempranillo based reds which are traditionally paired with local roast pork, aged cheese and chorizo. But for a Gran Reserva Rioja, you can intake higher protein meat, and top pairing suggestion is grilled pigeon with white truffle.
These dishes will generally work with Riojas:
- Dishes with pimento or red peppers and paprika
- It is the best red wine with lamb dishe from roast lamb to tender lamb cutlets i.e. grilled over vine clippings to slow braised lamb shanks or even a rogan josh.
- Dishes with saffron such as Moroccan tagines or paella including, surprisingly, chicken with preserved olives and lemon and Mediterranean style fish stews. Due to its multiple eatable options Rioja is the most famous Spanish wine to drink in 2022.
- Rioja cheese pairing is super delicious, especially hard sheeps’ cheeses such as Manchego, although a mellow rioja reserve is a generally reliable choice with a cheeseboard.
Average Price of Rioja
One can find incredible Reserva wines in the the $15 to $30 range. The price of a bottle of wine reflects few things i.e. the costs of production or how much it costs to make a bottle. There are the raw materials of grapes, bottles and barrels, plus labor and utilities that makes wine expensive or cheaper.
