Rioja tasting

Steve and I would like to invite you to my home for a Rioja tasting.

We’re exploring one of Spain’s most iconic wine regions: Rioja. Known primarily for Tempranillo, Rioja offers a fascinating balance of fruit, structure, and oak influence, shaped by both tradition and modern winemaking.

All of the wines you’ll taste tonight fall around the $35 price point, a sweet spot where Rioja consistently over-delivers. At this level, you can expect wines with real complexity—think ripe red and dark fruit, notes of vanilla, spice, cedar, and sometimes leather or earth, depending on style and age.

As this is a blind tasting, we will try to focus on:
• Aromatics: fruit vs. oak, freshness vs. development
• Structure: acidity, tannin, and balance
• Style clues: traditional vs. modern, younger vs. more mature

Some of these wines may feel elegant and restrained; others richer and more powerful. There are no right or wrong answers—just observations and preferences.

At the end, we’ll reveal the wines and see which Rioja stole the show—and whether price, producer reputation, or style aligned with what we enjoyed most.

In terms of food we are preparing a slow cooker Spanish chicken dish along with a vegetarian chick pea dish. Can we ask that you sign up and comment on appetizers and a dessert that matches the theme please.

Please bring 4 glasses along with your wine.

Also please note we do not allow beef at home and we also have a cat for those that have allergies.

Let’s pour the first glass and see what Rioja has to say—without labels doing the talking. 🍷