A Riojan debate

[Thomas]

Well jasmudger, you are going to love this answer.

It's California's and Australia's fault, with a lot of help from wine gurus and their ratings.

Just like Tuscany before it, Rioja is going for what they believe is the "international market" for wine on the upper end--big, chewy, extracted, oaky stuff. That style was led by California and Australia and is among the top styles to get the press.

And then, there is the other side, now being led by Australia--large volume, oak chipped, on the sweet side for the rest of us unwashed masses.

A good terrior-driven Rioja, or from anywhere else for that matter, was slowly getting pushed into the trash bin of history--until some enlightened importers entered the trade in the U.S. But I don't know anything about the importers in the U.K.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 10-14-2004).]