Looking for wines similar to Rioja? Here's our top picks.

The red wines of the Rioja (pronounced ree-ow-huh) region of Spain are regularly among our bestsellers. There is a long-lasting appeal for these wines that has endured for many years in the UK as the top selling region for Spanish wine.

With over 600 wineries, Rioja is home to an incredible diversity of wines. The key grape used is Tempranillo and is the foundation of the regions best wines, offering flavours of raspberry, plum, blackcurrant and cherry fruit and a structure that is very suited to oak ageing. This can be blended with Grenache, which adds body to the blend, along with other local varieties like Graciano.

The other key factor when looking for wines similar to Rioja is time in oak barrels. The rules around the style and labelling of their wines is based around the minimum amount of time maturing in both barrel and then bottle before release. This can range from young, juicy easy drinking reds under the Joven label (renamed as Genérico recently) with no ageing, to mature, full bodied, savoury and complex wines under Gran Reserva (aged for 2 years in barrel and 3 in bottles).

However, the most common styles that people will know are:

• Crianza (aged for 1 year in barrel and 1 in bottle)
• Reserva (aged for 1 year in barrel and 2 in bottle).

These wines have an excellent balance between the rich fruit and warm spicy oak character. It can be dynamic and jammy with flavours of blackberries and cherry while developing more complex aromas and flavours of chocolate, prunes, and dried fig and vanilla spice and clove from the time in oak. The best examples are considered among the Spain's finest wines.

Now if all of this talk about Rioja has you thirsty for a glass, you can find our range of this region's wines here. 

But if you enjoy the wines from this region and are looking for something new, what else could you try? We've collected 6 wines similar to Rioja with flavours and textures that will deliver what you're after.

Bardos CLEA Ribera del Duero Crianza, 14%, Spain

To begin with we'll stick with the key grape in Rioja - Tempranillo. You only have to venture a little to the west and the south to find Ribera Del Duero. This from Bardos is a full-flavoured and very accessible Tempranillo red wine with intense and complex aromas of ripe fruits, dark fruit jam, tobacco and leather. The hotter climate of this region produces wines that are full-bodied, rich, smooth and elegant. This spends 14 months in oak and it is time well-spent, it complements the wine with gentle tannins and an expressive, lasting finish. Pairing wise, a spanish beef stew is always a winner, or enjoy at a barbecue.

Vila Jardim Selection Red, 14%, Portugal

Portuguese wine also uses Tempranillo in their wine blends (though it will be labelled at Tinta Roriz) and is often blended with Touriga Nacional. For an introduction to their style you can't go wring with this taste of central Portugal from one of the oldest wine producing regions in the country. This is a spicy and rich red blend with a nice depth of flavour. Blackcurrant, plum, blackberry, a peppery spice. The palate is rich and rounded with 6 months of oak providing texture and leading to a finish with good length and gentle tannins. If you like a bold and spicy wine, this is for you. Try this with grilled beef, Portuguese Stone Soup or a smoky bean chilli.

One to enjoy if you like Crianza Rioja.

Alceno, Sierra de Enmedio Monastrell, 13.5%, Spain, Organic

Monastrell is the Spanish name for the Mourvèdre grape and it thrives in hot regions like Jumilla. This example from family owned winery Alceno is ripe, fruity & delicious. If you like a tinto joven you'd love this. This was also featured in Fiona Beckett's Guardian column: "Appealingly soft, juicy Spanish red. Easy to drink on its own, better with tapas." - Fiona Beckett, The Guardian October 2023

Benegas, Ataliva Malbec, 13.5%, Argentina, Vegan

Malbec may not be your first thought when looking for a Rioja-style wine, but this juicy , modern malbec is a not your average example. Kate Says: "When we first tried this wine my tasting note was: "Banging! That's what people want!" Bold ripe fruit, powerful delivery, a good lick of oak, persistence on the finish and good juicy freshness throughout. What's not to like? The winemaking is world-class." A great alternative to Reserva Rioja reds.

Coterie by Wildeberg, Cabernet Franc Malbec, 14.5%, South Africa, Vegan

We move away from Portugal and Spain for our next selection to find a winning Cabernet Franc and Malbec from South Africa.  A satisfyingly ripe, textural expression of Cab Franc and Malbec with real purity of fruit. The nose is fresh and vibrant with crushed red fruits, hints of redcurrant and wild plum with lightly herbal notes plus warm spice of cloves and star anise. This leads to a plush and richly flavoured palate with ripe black fruit, balanced with a savoury mid palate, subtle, gently spicy oak and lifted by juicy acidity. This is another one for fans of Reserva Rioja. 

Samurai Shiraz, 13.5% Australia, Vegan

Finally we look to Australia to discover a super juicy and fruity Aussie Shiraz with oodles of blackberry, black cherry and plum fruit on a ripe and round medium-bodied palate with a little smokey, earthiness. This is less dense and spicy than your regular Australian Shiraz with soft tannins that make it ever so drinkable. This really is all about the pure fruit making it like an unoaked Joven Rioja, but it has more body and a voluptuous mouth-filling texture. A very appealing wine.