Rioja’s red wines are beloved for their balance of ripe fruit and well-integrated oak, combining vibrant berry flavours with layers of sweet spice and toasted vanilla.
Look closer, however, and the category reveals a broad spectrum of styles. Alongside more traditional expressions, often matured in American oak, are increasingly modern interpretations that instead use French oak and place greater emphasis on freshness, precision and purity.
Whatever the approach, Rioja remains one of the world’s most dependable fine-wine regions. These are reds that can be enjoyed in their youth or cellared for even more complexity, equally suited to drinking on their own or with food.
Rioja performed strongly at this year’s IWSC, with two wines achieving Gold medals and a wide spread of Silvers highlighting the region’s depth. Rioja Vega Reserva 2019 was awarded 95 points, with judges noting its ‘intense and glossy’ character, layered with candied red cherry and damson fruit. J. Garcia Carrion’s Viña Arnaiz Reserva 2017 also scored 95 points, impressing with its smooth, velvety texture and complex finish.
Silver medal winners were equally varied in style, with a number of top Crianza wines among the standouts. These included Extra Special Marqués del Norte 2019 from Asda, J. Garcia Carrion’s Marqués de Carrión Crianza 2018, and El Coto de Rioja Crianza 2021, praised by IWSC judges for its ‘intense and vibrant’ profile.
All wines were tasted blind by an expert IWSC panel, including Daniel Stojcic, head sommelier at Estelle Manor, The Wine Society buyer Harriet Kininmonth, and Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. Rioja’s consistency was clear, with this year’s top performers showcasing both the region’s heritage and its evolving stylistic range.
How do we judge these wines?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
How do we score these wines?
Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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Award-winning Rioja red wines 2025
