This Is The Wine Our Team Is Drinking This Festive Season

25th November 2024

Christmas is firmly on the horizon and the return of Rioja Wine Month (AKA Feliz Rioja) is here, offering the perfect chance for you to discover why this iconic wine region – and its exceptional wines – are a must to celebrate the festive season with. Did you know that in addition to its smooth and silky reds, Rioja also makes white, rosé and sparkling wine? Neither did we. Read on for more info on the month-long wine celebration, and to discover our team’s top picks for your Christmas table.

In Partnership With Rioja Wine UK

About the festival

Feliz Rioja runs from 1st November until 30th November and this year over 150 independent retailers, wine bars and restaurants across the UK will be taking part. With businesses across the nation offering in-store tastings, pairing dinners, mixed case promotions and more, now is the perfect chance to learn about the 2,000-year history of Rioja wine and to discover your new favourite wine from Spain’s most iconic wine region. While many have heard of Rioja, few truly appreciate the great complexity and diversity that this innovative wine region offers, with a vast range of wine styles sure to delight any wine lover.

Visit the Rioja Wine Directory to find retailers, restaurants and wine bars near you taking part in Feliz Rioja

Did you know that Rioja also makes white, rosé and sparkling wine? We put some of the region’s wines to the test…

Our top picks

This festive season, make the most of Rioja’s excellent food pairing potential.

Wondering what will go best with the mountain of different cheeses you’ve stockpiled for a party? Here are our tried and tested picks that are sure to satisfy even the trickiest of guests, ranging from dazzling sparkling wines to the region’s iconic reds.

We love this white, which is beautifully balanced and complex, and pairs perfectly with fish and shellfish.

With notes of cherry, black fruits and dark chocolate perfect for dark evenings, pair with hearty, spicy food like lamb curry or stew.

Reasonably priced, crisp and floral, this is a must for party season.

Pairs beautifully with cheese either before or after a meal, desserts and with lighter festive dishes like fish.

Why Rioja?

Rioja is Spain’s finest wine-producing region, located in the north of the country on the banks of the Ebro River, and it has a world-renowned reputation. To say wine is a passion in Rioja is an understatement – it’s a way of life. Rioja’s wine heritage dates back over 2,000 years, and its pioneering spirit is still as strong as ever. New winemakers continue to push up against the limits of what is expected, blending tradition and innovation, as well as old and new winemaking styles.​

Find your perfect Rioja

All that’s left to do now is taste the different Rioja wines out there during Feliz Rioja. Head to the Rioja Wine Directory website to get the full list of 150 restaurants, retailers and bars taking part in the month-long festival. For those in London, renowned Spanish restaurants Hispania and El Pirata, as well as Michelin-starred Sketch are getting involved, joined by expert retailers Blanco & Gomez Wine Merchants and D’Vine Cellars. Cheers to that!

when: 1st November – 31st November
where: Across the Uk
website: www.buyrioja.co.uk


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