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Rioja News
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Spotlight on Rioja
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Rioja Tastings
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Featured Recipe
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Ask Ana
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Last Sip
December 2014/January 2015
Win an Awesome
Wine Fridge!
As a thank you for being a
loyal member of our Rioja
community, we are offering
you the chance to win a
Wine Enthusiast Silent 28
Bottle Touchscreen Wine
Refrigerator.
Enter now!
Holiday Velvety Reds
For some, the arrival of the holidays means dollar signs. And while a beautifully
aged wine for holiday gatherings might seem like an unaffordable luxury, Rioja
wines are the exception to the rule! Aged velvety Rioja Reservas and Gran
Reservas are a fantastic value and perfect with any holiday meal,
from turkey topork loin to fish.
And Rioja is the only wine region in the world that does not release a bottle until
it is perfectly ready to drink. So, raise a glass of Rioja this holiday season!
Need a great bottle for dinner tonight? Check out our "Where to Buy
Rioja"section on Riojawine.com to find a sampling of locations that sell delicious
Riojas across the U.S., along with links to stores and e-retailers. New locations
are added regularly, so check back often!
Rioja in the News
Congratulations to Mark G.
from Boulder, CO, the
winner of our
August/September Wine
Refrigerator Sweepstakes!
Tempranillo Love
Eric Asimov of the The New York Times dedicated November, International
Tempanillo Month, to Rioja. Sad to have missed the fun? Fret not! Check
out“Your Next Lesson: Rioja” from his monthly Wine School column. Also
follow David Falchek’s wine recommendations in The Scranton Times
Tribune’s online article, “Spanish Red? Probably Tempranillo.” Known for
producing big wine with considerable tannins, tempranillo is perfect for
hearty meats and colder weather. So, get cozy and enjoy Rioja’s noble
grape throughout the winter!
Spotlight on Rioja
Holiday Celebrations
La Navidad (Christmas) in Spain is a time for religion, traditions, family,
great food and wine (of course!) The season kicks off on December 8 with
the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday. Throughout the
month, cities and villages display elaborate nativity scenes, Christmas
trees, and Christmas markets. Traditionally, presents are exchanged on
January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, as excited Spanish children wake up
to find Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings/Wise Men) have left them gifts.
At midnight on El Año Nuevo (New Year's Eve), December 31, everyone
celebrates the New Year by eating 12 grapes, one for every chime of the
bells in the city hall tower in Madrid, to bring good luck. Feliz Navidad y
Feliz Año Nuevo!
Rioja Featured Tastings
Stew Leonard's
Just in time for holiday entertaining and gift season, visit Stew Leonard’s on
select days through December 20 for complimentary Rioja wine tastings. A
selection of Rioja gems, both classic and modern will be poured. Stop by
our table, and start planning what bottles you will pair with your holiday
feasts. Visit our Rioja wine events calendar for details. For Stew Leonard’s
locations and store hours, click here.
Featured Recipe
Easy BBQ Short Ribs
Cold weather have you stuck indoors? Reminisce about the lazy days of summer
by enjoying a good ol’ BBQ dinner. Warm up with our Easy BBQ Short Ribs recipe,
a roaring fire and a glass of luscious Rioja Reserva. Enjoy!
Ask Ana
Hi Ana,
What makes Rioja Tempranillo special?
--Question from Peggy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What an insightful question Peggy! I would think you may have arrived at this question from your sensorial
experience with a glass of Rioja. As I shared in my book, "Tempranillo of Rioja expresses the nobility of the grape in
a way that is not found in any other wine region." This nobility is the greatest expression of the grape, which
translates into balance, elegance, and finesse that equates excellence. Experts agree that the terrior of Rioja is
where Tempranillo is happiest. Our growers and winemakers are in a “deep relationship” with Tempranillo which
accounts for over 80% of our current DOCa vineyard distribution. In addition to this, the DOCa of Rioja implements
a sophisticated system of quality control that assists in the pursuit of excellence.
Send us an e-mail with your question to [email protected] and you may see it in the next newsletter!
Ana Fabiano is the Trade Director for the U.S. Rioja campaign, Brand Ambassador for the DOCa
Rioja, and author of the award-winning book The Wine Region of Rioja. She has traveled
extensively throughout Rioja is passionate about this region of the world.
Last Sip
NYE Party Tips
Hosting a December 31st gathering? Check out these ideas for throwing
the Easiest New Year’s Eve Party ever, including downloadable New Year’s game
cards, a party playlist, favor ideas, recipes and more. And, of course, we hope you
will be toasting 2015 with your favorite bottle of Rioja!
Photo: Mikkel Vang
As the year comes to a close, we want to thank all of our friends, fans, supporters, vendors and
partners for your support and loyalty. From our Rioja family to yours, we wish you the happiest of
holidays and a wonderful new year!