Articles
The wines from Garnacha in Rioja 2022
by Miquel Hudin | 25-01-2022
It is a justified assumption that 99% of the Riojan wines one encounters will be majority if not fully-based on the grape, Tempranillo. At 88% of all red plantings, it is unequivocally the dominant variety... more »
The wines of Rioja’s Viñedos Singulares 2022
by Miquel Hudin | 14-01-2022
If someone has not spent time in the Rioja region, it’s nearly impossible to impress upon them as to how incredibly large and diverse it is. Something like 100km long and 50km wine in terms... more »
Villota, a bend in the river
by Miquel Hudin | 22-07-2021
Laserna, Álava, at the border of Basque Country and La Rioja doesn’t offer terribly much in terms of sights. A main road narrowly winds its way through the few houses of the village, the old... more »
In The Glass: Olivier Rivière- Rayos Uva 2019
by Miquel Hudin | 26-05-2021
I don’t know when, but someday we’ll look back from a vantage point far, far in the future and say, “So… why on earth did people think Rioja wines had to be almost all Tempranillo?”... more »
The latest from Sierra de Toloño in Rioja Alavesa
by Miquel Hudin | 15-04-2021
An imposing as well as important piece of Rioja’s geography are the Cantabrian Mountains in the north that act as a guard against the worst of the Atlantic Ocean’s intentions. It isn’t just one range... more »
In The Glass: El Coto – Crianza 2016
by Miquel Hudin | 09-01-2021
As has been made very clear, while we may have left 2020 behind us, 2021, the impending “Year of the Ox” on the Chinese calendar, isn’t really going to be that much different, at least... more »
A better understanding of Rioja’s “Viñedos Singulares”
by Miquel Hudin | 17-08-2020
In 2019, the first “Viñedos Singulares” or “single vineyards” in DOC Rioja were certified. This first batch saw 84 vineyards certified under the new scheme, covering 154ha, which I think by any measure would be... more »
DOC Rioja’s “Institutional Wines” for 2020
by Miquel Hudin | 13-07-2020
DOC Rioja has announced the latest wines that will represent “typicity” in their respective category for the next year. From 163 submitted samples by 53 different wineries, they parred this down to eight individual wines... more »
The absolute best Rioja wines! (available in the UK…)
by Miquel Hudin | 24-02-2020
If you’re going to hold a tasting that focuses on one of Spain’s oldest quality wine regions, a sure-fire way to juice it up a bit is to have the venue be one of the... more »
25 years of Torre Muga
by Miquel Hudin | 14-10-2019
Mid-October in Barcelona is still Mediterranean in terms of weather as summer clings to the days but is yet graced by a glint of cool air coming in at the fringes of the season. This... more »