La Rioja

Located in the north of Spain, La Rioja is bordered by the Basque Country, Navarre, Aragón, and Castile and León. In the most mountainous parts of La Rioja are the sources of seven tributaries of the Ebro, one of which is the River Oja, or Río Oja, from which the region takes its name. La Rioja benefits mainly from a Mediterranean and continental climate, being the average annual rainfall about 300 - 600 mm and temperature ranging from 11°C to 31°C (53°F - 88°F).

Thanks to the differences between the Lower and Upper Rioja in terrain and climate, this region’s gastronomy is very varied embracing a wide range of products and recipes, from delicate wines to exceptional olive oil or cheeses. On the fertile plain alongside the River Ebro, superb fruit and vegetables are grown, which provide the very essence of the local cuisine. Rioja canned food are gastronomic entities in their own right in Spain.

This traditional region is especially known world-wide for its vineyards and wine production under the D.O of the same name. Named Wine Region of the 2007, Rioja blends tradition with cutting-edge innovations, producing wines of various Spanish grape varieties. The region has a total of 63,000 hectares cultivated, producing 271 million liters of Rioja wine annually, of which 90% is red.[1]

Products to discover:

- Olive oil (organic and non organic): Almazara Ecológica, Lácteos Martinez and Vinícola Riojana de Alcanadre.
- Canned vegetable gourmet products: Alberto de Miguel
- Canned fish and seafood in olive oil: Alberto de Miguel
- Gourmet sauces: Tre
- Cheese: Lácteos Martinez
- Pickles: Tre
- Rioja wines: Bodega Monte Laturce, Ramírez de la Piscina, Sonsierra, Tobía y Vinícola Riojana de Alcanadre.
- Ready foods: Alberto de Miguel.

[1] Fuente: DDOO Rioja. http://www.riojawine.com/es/pdfs/Ventasrioja2007.pdf