Of Rioja’s three sub-zones, Rioja Alavesa is the flyweight. With a total vineyard area of just over 13,000 hectares, it is by far the smallest, around half the size of heavyweights Rioja Alta and Rioja Oriental.
And yet, when it comes to influence, creativity, dynamism and share of Rioja’s – and Spain’s – best bottles, this sub-region punches way above its weight. This has been the case throughout its history. Take, for example, the story of how Rioja first caught global attention as a fine-wine region in the second half of the 19th century.
Scroll down to see notes and scores for 10 exciting wines from Rioja…
Source : https://www.decanter.com/premium/exploring-rioja-alavesa-531450/