Wine Blog

With Rioja being a perfect partner to any celebration, I thought I would revisit this extraordinary wine region with a few words of history and certainly a few recommendations.  Shop our full range of Rioja Where is Rioja? Easily found by hopping on the excellent Brittany Ferries to Santander. Upon disembarking the ferry head east to Bilbao. From here head due south toward La Rioja, the smallest autonomous region in Spain. This is a unique wine region with over 50 …

For years Rioja has been a story of wood. Specifically, oak. It all started in the 18th century when Don Manuel Esteban Quintano Quintano (so good they named him twice) travelled to Bordeaux.Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition Don Manuel came from a family of winemakers with vineyards in Labastida in Rioja Alavesa. Don Manuel was not sure that he wanted to become a winemaker. Instead, he thought he might follow in his uncles’ footsteps by joining the church (and the Spanish Inq …

Easter falls in mid April this year so fine Spring weather could be expected! I like this time of the year and like most of you in the Westcountry will relax over the four-day holiday. For many it’s the first time that a family lunch is planned and traditional fare such as Salmon, Lamb and early springtime fruit dishes (Rhubarb!) are often the norm. Salmon could also easily be replaced with our excellent local Fish with ease but the thought of a larger fish, simply roasted with fresh herbs and …

Your first sip of a red Rioja - particularly an aged one - can be something of a jolt to the tastebuds. There’s clearly something different and interesting going on. For many of us that first sip was the start of a lifelong love affair with one of Europe’s most historic and interesting wine making regions. In this article I'll be answering your Rioja questions: Where Does Rioja Come From? What Grapes Are Used to Make Rioja? What Are the Rioja Age Classifications? What are the Regional …