Vinoble is proud to import a range of Rioja wines Hong Kong. Spain's international reputation for wine has increased dramatically over the last 10 years - in part because of the rise of Rioja. As a wine region, Rioja includes La Rioja and Navarre, near the border with France in Northern Spain, and contains over 16,000 wineries, or bodegas. Wine making in this region has an ancient history, dating back to pre-Roman times. Rioja is best known for its Red wines made from Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache), and have four levels of age permitted to be labeled: Rioja, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. Malvasia Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, and Macabeo are also grown for the smaller volume of Viura produced in the region. Despite the proximity to France, Rioja is frequently aged in American Oak, with the barrel profile being a prominent component in the character of the wine. Recent trends have seen producers moving in two direction, one towards less oak in general and one to French oak. Rich spices, and vanilla are still considered essential components of Rioja's flavor profile. Rioja's bodegas are known to traditionally age their bottled wines in their own cellar, releasing it many years later when the producer felt it was ready. While the trend (as it is everywhere) is to produce youthful, and more approachable wines, many of the top producers still practice this cellaring before release, making affordable well-aged Rioja more easy to find retail.