PEDRO BALLESTEROS TORRES MW

'Rioja meets the conditions to be much more than an appellation'

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Most appellations of origin in wine are associated with particular styles: Barolo, Chianti, Burgundy, Mosel, Ribera del Duero... the list goes on. However, two names – Bordeaux and Rioja – stand out by eschewing such categorisations. Instead of particular styles, the two regions represent Wine, pure and simple.

In each of these two great regions, almost all styles and categories are produced: red, white, rosé, sparkling, sweet; fresh wines to drink young and classical wines for extended cellaring; single-vineyard boutique-label wines and ubiquitous global brands; wines made by guardians of tradition and by energetic innovators.

Both regions are as passionately beloved as they are publicly criticised. Yet they show an amazing ability to keep developing new ideas and new wines, while fine-tuning the most traditional styles. They are heirs to tradition but remain obsessed with innovation; their mutual raison d’être is the wine.