Rioja Wine

Rioja remains Spain's most internationally recognised wine region, built almost entirely around Tempranillo and known for a classification system based on ageing time rather than vineyard site. Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva wines spend progressively longer in oak and bottle before release, giving each tier a noticeably different character, from fresh and fruit-forward through to something closer to leather and dried fruit, with the extra ageing softening tannins along the way. If Tempranillo is the variety you're after, Tempranillo covers examples from beyond Rioja too. For the wider Spanish range, Spanish Wine is worth a look, and Red Wine covers everything else on offer by style.