Red grapeSommo grape guide

Rioja Red Blend

Rioja Red Blend wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Medium-full
Origin
Spain
Top region
Rioja
3
Key regions
3
Pairings
3
Synonyms

Rioja Red Blend is a red blend rather than a single variety, with its roots in Rioja, Spain.

The wines show medium-full body, medium tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.

The tasting note runs to red fruit, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, earth and spice.

It is planted most seriously in Rioja, Priorat and Valdepenas.

In the vineyard it is marked by mid ripening, medium vigour and a preference for temperate.

It blends readily with Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano.

On other labels it goes by Rioja Blend, Rioja Red and Rioja Tinto.

At the table it suits chuletillas de cordero (spring lamb chops), roasted pork shoulder with five-spice rub and crumbed, roasted eggplant with a tomato & basil ragout.

Keeps for around 2 years.

The structure.

Body
Medium-full
Tannin
Medium
Acidity
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
red fruitcherrystrawberrychocolate
Aromas
earthspicefloraloak
Styles
red

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Chuletillas de Cordero (Spring Lamb Chops)
02 Roasted Pork Shoulder with Five-spice Rub
03 Crumbed, Roasted Eggplant with a Tomato & Basil Ragout

Also labelled.

Rioja Blend, Rioja Red, Rioja Tinto.

Bottles to look for.

  • Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Muga 'Prado Enea' Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Muga Reserva - Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Muga Torre Muga, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • CVNE 'Cune' Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain
  • CVNE 'Cune' Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain

Rioja Red Blend: common questions

01.
What does Rioja Red Blend taste like?
+
Rioja Red Blend tastes of red fruit, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, earth and spice, plus two more. The wines show medium-full body, medium tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Rioja Red Blend from?
+
Rioja Red Blend originates in Rioja, Spain.
03.
Where is Rioja Red Blend grown?
+
The key regions for Rioja Red Blend are Rioja, Priorat and Valdepenas.
04.
What food pairs with Rioja Red Blend?
+
Pour it with chuletillas de cordero (spring lamb chops), roasted pork shoulder with five-spice rub and crumbed, roasted eggplant with a tomato & basil ragout.
05.
What else is Rioja Red Blend called?
+
Rioja Red Blend is also labelled Rioja Blend, Rioja Red and Rioja Tinto.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Spain.

Grapes in the app

Scan a Rioja Red Blend,
see what is in your glass.

Sommo reads the label, names the grape and the region, and files the tasting note where you will find it again.