Rioja DOCa

Rioja is the most famous and the first DO in Spain, 1925, and the first DOCa in 1991

Rioja was named from its placement on the Oja river, Rio Oja in spanish

It sits in north central spain, in a nook between the Cantabrian mountians and the Pyrenees, giving it protection as well as letting a variety of weather affect it. Cool from the Bay of Biscane, Warm from the Med. Being between these mountains and on the rivers path provides them with irrigation.

Rioja has three districts
Rioja Alta - western and considered best
Rioja Baja - southern
Rioja Alavesa - Basque, in the Kingdom of Navarra

Grapes:

white
Viura aka Macabeo
Malvasia
Garnacha Blanca

now sauv blanc, chard, torrentes are allowed but must be labeled if single varietal

red
tempranillo queen of them all
garnacha
mazuelo = carignan
graciano

tempranillo is often late ripening in cool rioja, and produces lower sugar so the other grapes are blended for body and strength