Crimson wines from Rioja, Spain, have generations of followers—for good motive. These wines are identified for being lush and opulent (the types of bottles you’d serve with roast lamb), however there’s “change afoot in one of many world’s most hidebound wine areas,” writes Betsy Andrews in her article for our March/April 2025 problem.
Whereas winemakers in Rioja traditionally aged Tempranillo grapes in American oak to create their characteristically wealthy pink wines, trendy producers are embracing a spectrum of grapes and winemaking kinds to realize lighter, crunchier, terroir-driven outcomes. Their selections mirror not solely latest adjustments to Spain’s wine classification system, but additionally shifting client tastes, winemaking tendencies, and weather conditions.
These seven bottles spotlight the brighter, brisker aspect of Rioja reds.
Bodegas Lanzaga Corriente 2021
Anticipate ripe raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors from this crowd-pleaser created from organically farmed Tempranillo, plus spicy, earthy notes and vegetal undertones. The end is dry and velvety with fantastically built-in tannins. $18.99, mvwines.com
Bodegas Moraza Tempranillo 2022
Brilliant and approachable, this easy-drinking bottle from a minimal-interventionalist producer in Rioja Alta presents appreciable worth for cash. There are notes of cloves and allspice alongside the juicy pink berry flavors and pleasantly grippy tannins. $22.95, mysa.com
Sierra de Toloño Raposo 2021
A subject mix of Tempranillo and Graciano, this irresistibly terroir-driven bottle has tart acidity and velvety tannins to spare. Juicy blackberries and savory spices headline the delightfully crunchy, complicated flavors. $28.99, wine.com
Jose Gil Rioja Viñedos en San Vincente de la Sonsierra 2021
A mix of Tempranillo with Garnacha and smattering of white wine grapes, this fantastically crafted high-elevation wine combines pink berries and gently floral flavors with spicy minerally notes. The dry end and silky tannins can have you reaching for one more sip virtually instantly. $49.99, zachys.com
Bodegas Montecillo Vina Monty Garnacha 2016
Tart cherries and just-picked blackberries headline this single-variety Garnacha from Montecillo’s Viña Monty label. It combines juicy, fruit-forward flavors with refined construction and an extended, crisp end. $59.98, winex.com
Artuke Tempranillo La Condenada 2022
From one in all Spain’s most celebrated producers comes this biodynamic, fantastically structured single-vineyard wine. It has layers of raspberries and blackberries in addition to earthy vegetal flavors alongside zippy acidity and grippy tannins. Whilst you actually might drink it proper now, this investment-worthy bottle will solely develop into extra complicated with age. $84, saratogawine.com
Ramon Bilbao Lalomba Finca Lalinde 2021
Admittedly, this isn’t a pink wine in any respect: It’s a single-vineyard rosado that will get its ballet-pink coloration and crisp texture from getting older a mix of Garnacha and white Viura wines in concrete. But it surely demonstrates the recent method being undertaken by historic producers like Ramon Bilbao. Andrews calls it “bone-dry with terrific minerality and food-friendly grip,” and it pairs fantastically with all the pieces from shellfish to grain bowls to burgers. $45.50, theboozeoutlet.com
