I just got back from Rioja last week. Me and my husband spent 5 days traveling around Rioja, from one Bodega to another Bodega. I can tell you, they are so serious about their wines. Met some of the nicest people there, explaining to me about their wines. They also recommended me some of the wines to bring home, and which ones to drink right away. Rioja wines are so splendid, they are velvety, deep, but lively at the same time. I also tested some of the nicest whites from Rioja. They are now experimenting with some newer blends, breaking the traditional way of making Rioja wines, and the wines are divine. My trip to Rioja was so special, and I hope someday to be back there again. Cheers!

Hi Agnes, I suppose it was inevitable that we would have a showdown between these two Spanish heavyweights. With all due respect to all the other fine wine regions of Spain these two are the big guns. As for a preference; I'm sitting on the fence. When I order a glass of 'tinto' in a Spanish bar and they ask me "Rioja or Ribera", I usually go for the Ribera. It's a safer bet and you can tell right away it's a Ribera. That's not always the case with Rioja. When buying a bottle you're on safer ground. The colour of Rioja reds vary quite a lot from thin brick red to opulent dark berry. However, there is a greater similarity of colour with Ribera. I'm talking about that deep violet with that lovely hue on the edge. I think the colour of wine does prepare our senses for what's to follow. It's why connoisseurs of whisky insist on natural colour because it tells us a great deal about cask maturation and age. Most people equate Spanish wine with 'Rioja' and it wasn't long ago it was a Tempranillo affair only and aged exclusively in American oak. That's changed of course and we even have 100% Garnacha Rioja - who would have thought? Indeed, it begs the question: when is a Rioja a Rioja? The best producers have their own profile of course. Just recently I had a bottle of Muga's entry level red El Anden de la Estacion which retails for $10 in Spain and it's a great value Rioja from a big bodega. Expressions like Tondonia are unique to that bodega and can't be mistaken for anything else. There's so much happening in the world of Rioja including really excellent and criminally underappreciated whites. It's the opposite of the old, monolithic, Spanish wine dinosaur it's perceived as by so many and is a very vibrant wine region. My parents in law come from Valladolid and it's just a short drive to all the classic bodegas of Ribera. So many of them are clustered along the Duero to the East. (Go West and you get the great wines of Toro.) I've picked up so many great Riberas in newsagents and small shops over the years. The old ones are always forgotten and stuffed at the back of a shelf behind the counter and covered in dust. They should be awful because of the poor storage but I swear that these wines are resilient and still taste great. They also have the same price on them from years back. I love Ribera. Rioja is a roller coaster but Ribera has a great minimum standard. Protos have a great entry level 'Protos Roble' which is younger than Crianza but oak aged and it's great Ribera for $10 in Spain and sold everywhere. I think I've always equated the Ribera style to French oak and those smooth tannins. Hats off to both regions. Spanish wine is in a whole different place to where it was 30 years ago. There is no more vibrant and modern wine region anywhere than Spain. The range of wine, which is the best value anywhere, the shake up of marketing which has transformed the wine world for the better and the great wine. Having said that, most of this wonderful stuff is sold overseas. The Spanish are drinking far less wine and beer is the thing today. A long comment but I hope you enjoyed it. Cheers. WT

My first love with tempranillo was Condado de Haza. I was intrigued by the Vega Sicilia and Aalto connection. My first taste of Aalto was a WOW moment.

I'm a fan of Emilio Moro Ribera Del Duero wines. Rioja reds not so much, but I have enjoyed some good Rioja whites. I thought your review was right on the money.

I haven't drunk much, Ribera del Duero due to a lack of availability & higher prices. Rioja is a great classic region that reinventing itself for the 21st century. I totally agree with you that Rioja Blanco is highly underrated and should be appreciated more, as it can be enjoyed both in its youth and aged. Faustino's Gran Reserva is a great wine, and while their Cava's aren't terribly exciting, they are reliable.

Very good! I work with wines and had a Ribeira Del Duero tasting the other day. It was lovely! Thanks for the video.

You’re awesome! Love your videos 😊

I have never tasted these wines, so this video is quite informative for me. Thanks a lot,

Rioja was my first red wine love, and it remains one of my favourites. Top for me is Ygay granvreserva especial 2001.

Excellent video. Love the shirt

I think I prefer Rioja more because Ribera del Duero tends to have more tannin. In my old age, I've gravitated towards more supple wine. I'm now enjoying my Rioja Reserva 2008 & 2009 collections.

Love the wine of Spain. The food dictates the choice for me🎉

I love Spanish reds and the use of American oak. I like to think of Rioja as Chianti Classico and Ribera Del Duero as Brunello structure wise.

Great video and tasting!!! 🤩I've learned that usual Rioja reds use American oak, but when I searched website, it was as the case maybe. The websites of the two wineries say that Corimbo used French oak 80%, American oak 20%, and Remelluri Reserva Rioja used different origins Barrels. And Remelluri Gran Reserva and other Rioja red wines in its winery mainly used French oak. Many Rioja producers seem to use French oak these days. 😊

I am from Burgos a town, in the north of Ribera del Duero region. I usually drink more Rioja than ribera. But as an oenologist and a wine lover, i always enjoy a good wine, even if it's a Ribera

Not convinced that the altitude of Rioja is higher than that of Ribera del Duero. Also, it seems to me that the oak plays a bigger role in Rioja, but this could be very personal. Nevertheless, I like this kind of comparison pretty much

Ｉ　serious suggest to taste Ｔｏｄｏｎｉａ＆ｂｏｓｃｏｎｉａ　ａｓ　so called traditional winery in Rioja

Great video. I really like both wine regions and I buy Prado Enea(Muga), Torre Muga (Muga), Alion(Vega Sicilia) and Valbuena 5 (Vega Sicilia) almost every year. Tomas Postigo is an insider tip for the Ribero del Duero region.

Motley Cru, and wine, love it

its so wild seeing vineyards in sand and yet, it is the main reason Spanish wine is so popular. meaning, it was saved because of sandy soils during the phylloxera times 😅 p.s. 200 kilometers is an insane amount of distance and by no means close for wine regions 😅

excellent video because you face two titans of Spanish wine, it is like facing burgundy and burgundy, but in particular I love Rivera del duero I consider that there is a lot of opulence and elegance, and Rioja there is more subtlety and refinement. I love both and I have spent a lot of time trying from the most mediocre to what my mortgage allows and my favorites are the following: Rivera del Duero: Flor de Pingus, Vega Sicilia, Pesquera, pago de los capellanes, pago de carraovejas Rioja: Macan, Castillo & Gay, Marquez de Murrieta, Marquez de Riscal, Castillo & Gay Blanco Gran Reserva Especial

7:54 Haha...did not expect to hear about Motley Crue watching a wine review.

Arvien labāk un labāk! Bravissimo!

I personally prefer old school Rioja, Remelluri is a great choice (although I prefer their Branco to their Rojo). Personally, I'm not a huge fan of RdD... A lot of the wines are too oaky for my taste. This is another video you beat me to! Nice

By the way, I am at Ribera del Duero today, going to Rioja on Tuesday.

Rioja

I find La Rioja wines are more elegant and austere! Love the American oak in La Rioja Alta

Tempranillo❤

Ribera is delicious. But Rioja is generally my go to wine with food

I know Rioja, not much To me the color is the same, but I cant comment on the smell, and taste, nor pairing. Red fruit, nutmeg, cinamon, spicy, that`s elaborated. I need to try this. Motley Crue still plays?!

I've spent quite a lot of time recently exploring Rioja and Ribera wines, being the wines I've more access to from Madrid. Rioja is currently in the middle of an evolving process where you can still find traditionalists, where tertiary aromas are prominent, then primary, then secondary. These wines focus on the balsamic dimension of Tempranillo which shows only in high quality fruit and only after a few years of ageing. The more modernist approach is playing more with coupage and a more early-drinking style. Honestly, I think the bulk-priced point is lower in quality under this approach. Sometimes I find a lot of bitter, stem tannins and an excess of fruit, almost as if the winemakers were mostly trying to showcase the viticulture and forgetting about what the grape can become (some Langhe nebbiolos suffer from this too imo). Ribera del Duero can make much bigger wines, given the heavy diurnal range. However, I think they abuse oak in the low-ish price point. The wines are very nicely tense, with bright acidity, bold tannins and high body and fruit expressiveness. However, they tend to focus too much on a uniform, commercial style showing a dominance of oaky characters balanced by dark fruit. I only speak here for the less luxurious examples, because let's be honest: almost any region and variety can give off outstanding wines with enough commitment.

Really great stuff! If I had to be a dick and ‘that guy’ the altitude is the other way round, Ribera is on average higher though flat as a pancake and Rioja, though on average lower, has an influence from the sierras and more northerly climates. Really enjoyed the video!!! And great drinking choices!

Mam please can you do a video about the wine hisory please.

The Shining and Friday the 13th? Great video as always.

I think Rioja has more variety in terms of flavours and different grapes, I like the garnachas they make too. Ribera produces great fine red wine but is not as diverse. Both are great in their own way

To me Ribera is more geared to international style and Rioja more local flavor. Rioja is more a food wine for me. Initially Ribera jibes well with me at the time when i appreciate structure of dark fruits with some oak. As more and more Ribera entering the market, some only hold a facade and breakdown after an hour or two. More Rioja seem to hold its own longer and a good wine with meals. Fresh and balanced. Remelluri is quite enjoyable and affordable.

Generally prefer Rioja, especially López de Heredia, though there are some fine wines coming out of Ribeiro del Duero.

I know traditionally riojanused American oak. what types of oak is favored in Ribera del Duero?

👍👍❤❤02-07-23, 12:50h.

Big mistake 😢 Ribera del Duero is higher alcaline land,about 600feet than Rioja.Thanks😂!

Rioja all the way. Vega S wines are fantastic but the rest I’ve tried have a heavy meaty thing going on that doesn’t appeal.