This wine comes from the Olarra bodega in Logroño. It is full-bodied and delicious.

This gran reserva wine is 100% Tempranillo from the Muriel bodega. 1994 was a superb vintage and this wine is rich and flavoursome and ideal with roasts.

This reserva wine is smooth and fruity and is made by Bodegas Zugober in Rioja Alavesa .

This bodega from Cenicero produces cheerful young reds as far as the UK is concerned, although it is sometimes possible to get hold of the better crianzas, reservas and gran reservas

The Castillo Labastida estate has been rising to international prominence in recent years, lagely thanks to its oustanding winemaker Gonzalo Rodríguez who trained in Ribera del Duero - Spain's othe premier red wine region. This training is evident in the deep colour and long-lived structure of this wine. It is made purely from Tempranillo and has been aged in American oak for 30 months before being aged in bottle. It is absolutely delicious and can be obtained from Laithwaites.

This wine also comes from the Olarra bodega in Logroño, and is made mainly from Tempranillo grapes. It has been aged for 2 years in oak casks and then for one year in bottle. Rich and powerful.

This wine comes from the bodega by the same name in Logroño, Rioja Alta. It is the largest firm in Rioja. This wine has been aged for 12 months and therefore has hints of vanilla.

This wine comes from the Mart&iacutenez Bujanda bodega in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa). The family makes excellent crianza and reserva wines. The wines are full-bodied yet retain their fruitful flavour.

This a very superior single-vineyard red reserva made in the Rioja Alavesa by Viñedos del Contino, owned by CVNE.

An excellent bodega from Oyón in Rioja Alavesa, where they make mainly Tempranillo wines. The basic wine is sold under the El Coto label (see below), but the reservas and gran reservas are called Coto de Imaz.

An excellent bodega from Oyón in Rioja Alavesa, where they make mainly Tempranillo wines. The basic wine is sold under the El Coto label, but the reservas and gran reservas are called Coto de Imaz (see above).

This wine comes from the bodega entitled Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE), which was founded in 1879 in the full flush of the 19th-century Rioja boom (see IMPERIAL). It is a very drinkable and reliable young red.

This wine also comes the CVNE bodega, but this time it is white. It has been made from the earliest white grapes harvested - principally Viura and Malvasía. Following a light pressing the best juices are selected for barrel fermentation in small, new American oak casks prior to traditional barrel maturation. The result is a delicious lemon fresh wine with elegant oak influences, a hint of honey, an with great length and balance.

This white wine comes from Bodegas Franco-Españlas in Logroño, Rioja Alta.

This wine also comes from the Martínez Bujanda bodega in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa). This is a special selection of wines with deep fruitful flavours and a hint of vanilla.

This wine also comes from the Mart&iacutenez Bujanda bodega in Oyón (Rioja Alavesa). This rosé wine is excellent on warm summer lunchtimes with fish, salads or on its own. It is dry, fruity and yet not too sweet.

This bodega is one of the most famous in Spain and also comes from Oyón in Rioja Alavesa . Its main range in Faustino V (see below), but its best wine is Faustino 1.It is made from 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. The colour of the wine is cherry red and it has an intense aroma of spices and vanilla.

This reserva wine comes from the same bodega as the previous wine and is its main seller. A good wine to accompany any dish.

This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo and is excellent. Unfortunately it is also expensive.

This wine comes from the Palacios Remondo bodega in Alfaro, Rioja Baja. It makes both crianza and reserva wines and this is the crianza La Montesa. It is made from 50% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 20% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. It is full-bodied and yet smooth and velvety, with a hint of vanilla. Very good with strong cheeses.

This is an excellent example of the gran reserva wine from Rioja. It comes from CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España), a first-rate wine producer from the Rioja Alta area.

This is another good example of a fine Rioja wine, but unfortunately it is difficult to get in the UK.

Luis Cañas is an award-winning cellar based in Villabuena in the Alavesa district of Rioja. Although the cellar was only established in 1928, the family has been dedicated to wine and viticulture for the last two centuries. With a large expanse of vineyards acquired in more recent years, the bodega can now afford the luxury of using only grapes that it has grown itself, giving it greater control from grape to bottle.
This crianza has a bright scarlet hue with an aroma of sweet, spicy fruit, lots of silky strawberry flavour and a hint of liquorice on the finish. Very good with mild cheeses, lamb or roasted vegetables.

This bodega has changed the face of Rioja in modern times, and its wines are excellent. All grapes come from local growers and the wines are crisp, fresh and fruity. If you see a bottle treat yourself! Although well-known for its reds Marqués de Cáceres also produces very acceptable whites.

This is my favourite Rioja, from its bodega in Logroño. The best wines are made from Tempranillo and have a wonderfully rich and fruity taste.

This is the crianza version of the wine above. This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo and has a rich and fruity taste.

This wine comes from one the most famous of all Rioja bodegas, the Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, near Oyón, first built in 1868.

This dry red is made by Bodegas Marqués de Vitoria in Oyón, Ribera Alavesa (see map). It has been matured in American oak casks and is made from 100% Tempranillo. This particular 2000 vintage was shipped into this country by the MCC. According to Peter Anderson, former CEO of Somerset CCC, it is best put down for a year.

This wine consists of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It comes from the monastery in "Alto Najerilla" in Rioja Alta (see map) and has spent 3 to 4 months in cask-aging. Although this is a young wine it has a long aftertaste and is rich in tannins without being too overpowering.

This is a high class wine from Haro in Rioja Alta. The small family firm was founded in 1926, but moved to a new bodega near the station in 1971. Everything is done in traditional style by a tiny and dedicated workforce, headed by the Muga brothers themselves. Its wines reflect the care that goes into their making and are currently among the best from the Rioja DOC.

This wine is made in the same village (Elciego, Rioja Alavesa) as the wines of the Marqués de Riscal. The taste is strong in tannins and smooth. Normally costs around £7 for the crianza version.

This is a wonderful gran reservas from 1994, from the cellars of the Bodega Larchargo, lying on the slopes around the town of Fuenmayor. A little over 500m above sea level, the relatively high altitude cools the vines at night, giving them a little breather that helps to preserve the soft-fruit flavours. Deep, ruby colour with classic rich Rioja aromas of oak and spice. Soft, smooth palate with a juicy plump finish. Try with traditional Spanish fare - chorizo, tortilla, tapas, olives. This wine can be obtained from Laithwaites.

This is the label used by COSECHEROS ALAVESES for its well-made young wines, and produced in Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa. This 1998 reserva is excellent.

This is a fine example of a gran reserva from the same bodega as the Muga above.

A deliciously smooth blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha grapes, to create a soft, modern Rioja with hints of vanilla and plums. Good value-for-money, around £4.99 from Tesco, Safeway or Somerfield.

This wine comes from the Palacios Remondo bodega in Alfaro, Rioja Baja. It makes both crianza and reserva wines and this is one of their top wines. It is made from 40% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha, 15% Mazuelo and 15% Graciano. It has a deep bouquet of plum and is very intense. An excellent drink.

This wine is made by Bodegas Muriel (see above ) in the same area ( Rioja Alavesa) as the wines of the Marqués de Riscal. It has a dry, sharp taste on the tongue but a very smooth aftertaste with hints of berry and vanilla. It can be obtained from the Coop for just over a fiver.

This comes from the Fernando Remírez de Ganuza bodega in Samaniego, Rioja Alavesa. The wines from this small bodega, founded by Fernando Remírez in 1989, are made exclusively with hand-sorted grapes from old vines (90% Tempranillo and 8% Garnacha) and are already among the most sought-after wines from Rioja.

This comes from the AGE bodega in Fuenmayor, Rioja Alta. The most famous and best siglos are the crianzas, reservas and gran reservas in typical sacking wrap.

This wine also comes from the AGE bodega in Fuenmayor, Rioja Alta. It is medium-bodied, smooth and velvety with a hint of vanilla from barrel maturation.

This wine comes from the LABASTIDA bodega in Rioja Alavesa. It is full-bodied, smooth and velvety with a hint of vanilla.

An excellent example of a Rioja reserva Cenicero in Rioja Alta. This state-of-the-art winery was recently built by Martínez Bujanda in a bend of the Ebro, to produce premium quality single-vineyard reservas.

An excellent example of a Rioja reserva.

This wine comes from Rioja Baja and is made from 70% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha; a very good blend. It is rich and fruity with a smooth, elegant character and goes well with red meat dishes or cheese.

This wine is made in the same village, El Ciego in Rioja Alavesa, as the wines from Marqués de Riscal, but this time it has been bottled especially for the UK market and the COOP. It is fine for everyday drinking.

This wine comes from Rioja Baja and is made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha; an excellent blend. It has been aged in new American and French oak casks for 14 months, followed by a further 12 months in bottle before being released on the market. It has a brilliant garnet red colour and a very complex bouquet. It is full-flavoured, well- balanced and has a lingering aftertaste. It can be purchased in Waitrose and is excellent value for money.

This wine comes from Rioja Alavesa and is good example of a crianza wine.

This wine comes from the LAN bodega in Fuenmayor, Rioja Alta. From 1994 this has been its leading wine, with grapes taken from a specific area of its finca. It is a very elegant wine, with a deep and long-lasting aftertaste. Expect to pay about £10 but it is well worth it for a special occasion.

This wine is made by Bodegas Ondarre in Logroño, Ribera Alta (see map). It has a deep, oaky taste and is perfect for that special occasion.