Rioja: Spain's Most Famous Wine, Finally Explained

Rioja is the wine most people order when they want something Spanish, and most people have only a vague idea of what they're actually getting. Today's episode explains everything: the three sub-zones of Rioja and why they produce different styles, the Crianza/Reserva/Gran Reserva aging classification that shapes every bottle, the role of American versus French oak in the region's identity, and the producers who represent both traditional and modern Rioja at its best.