Rioja Oriental
Rioja
The warmest, driest stretch of Rioja, east and south of Logroño along the Ebro towards Navarra. Mediterranean influence pushes ripening earlier and harder, and Garnacha rather than Tempranillo is the historic grape — concentrated, plush reds with darker fruit and lower acidity than the Alta or Alavesa. Re-named from Rioja Baja in 2018 to shed the inferior connotation, the Oriental is now home to some of Spain's most exciting old-vine Garnacha projects, especially around Aldeanueva de Ebro, Alfaro and Tudelilla. Bodegas Ontañón, Palacios Remondo (Álvaro Palacios's family estate) and Bodegas Faustino sit here.
The wines of Rioja Oriental are made primarily from Grenache, Rioja Blend, Tempranillo.
Vineyard Map
Climate
The driest, sunniest stretch of the DOCa, with Mediterranean influence pushing budbreak and harvest earlier than in the Alta or Alavesa. Re-named from Rioja Baja in 2018.
Terroir
Alluvial terraces along the Ebro give way to iron-rich red clay and chalky outcrops in the foothills toward the Sierra de Yerga. Lower-altitude sites between 300 and 500 metres dominate.
Typical Aromas
What it tastes like
Body
Full
Acidity
Gentle
Tannin
Firm
Oak
Some oak
Ripeness
Rich
Concentration
Concentrated
Reds
Full-bodied and ripe with firm tannin and some oak; black cherry, fig and garrigue, plush, broad and generous.
black fruit · spicy · herbal · savoury · plush
Body
Lightish
Acidity
Fresh
Oak
No oak
Ripeness
Rich
Concentration
Medium
Whites
On the lighter side and fresh, with rich fruit; orchard fruit, a herbal edge and a smoky note, with a taut finish.
apple and pear · herbal · smoky · savoury · nutty
Similar styles
Lands in the same glass.
Like the reds
Grapes of Rioja
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes grow in Rioja Oriental?▼
What soils are found in Rioja Oriental?▼
Map data: MAPA (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) · Municipio boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Imagery: Sentinel-2 cloudless by EOX IT Services GmbH (CC BY 4.0)