Rioja Mixes Old and New

Rioja Mixes Old and New

Rioja has become a laboratory of wine and futuristic winery architecture. The wine region of Rioja in northern Spain is a terrific example of what's old is new again. At 96 years old, she is the oldest Designation of Origin (DOC) in the country. But the current generation of winemaking rebukes that dusty image, making Rioja a hot laboratory for experimentation outside the rigid age-designation system. And that new wave shows up in the stunning winery architecture for which the region is now known. "Rioja has always been progressive—it just wasn't always allowed to be progressive. These creative genes and abilities have existed and were always present," says Ana Fabiano, author of The Wine Region of Rioja, the first comprehensive look at classic and contemporary winemaking there. The majority of wines are still made under the careful watch of the regional DOCa Control Board, but since the 1991 introduction of the cosecha designation, which allowed winemakers to produce fresher, younger wines, Rioja is moving toward a fresher interpretation of itself. You can still get an old school Rioja with its classic leather and tobacco profile, but under a new level of Guarantee of Origin without aging restrictions, you can also