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Rioja

If you want to understand Spain, pour yourself a glass of Rioja. This historic northern region produces some of the country's most famous wines, typically mature, savory reds that go majestically with roast lamb. Rioja's vineyards trace the flow of the Ebro River through a valley protected by the nearby Cantabrian Mountains. Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano are the key red grapes, with Viura leading the white grapes. There are three main classifications of red wines: Gran Reserva (aged for five years, at least two in barrel), Reserva (aged for three years, one in barrel), and Crianza (aged for two years, one in barrel). Other wines can be young and unoaked—an increasingly popular style that shows off Rioja's modern face.