Rioja Heads to the Windy City

Located in north central Spain, Rioja is considered one of the greatest red wine regions of the world. Rioja reds are blended predominantly with the indigenous tempranillo grape from one of the region’s three subzones— Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. The D.O.Ca. Rioja administers highly sophisticated and stringent quality control in the winemaking process, from viniculture to bottling. More than 200 brands from Rioja are available for purchase in the U.S.

Wines from Rioja announces the 2nd annual Rioja Week in Chicago, kicking off with the Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival on Saturday, May 2, followed by a week replete with festivities across the city and country. Wine and food lovers everywhere are invited to explore the largest Spanish-focused festival in the country, celebrating Spain’s most renowned wine region of the world, well-known for its excellent quality and tremendous value.

The Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival, held at Chicago’s historic Union Station, includes nearly 200 vibrant wines from Rioja, from Blancos to Rosados to Gran Reservas, and everything in between. Attendees are invited to taste wines and learn directly from the best with top Rioja winemakers and winery principals in attendance.

Highlighting Rioja as the ultimate foodie travel destination, the Festival also spotlights 30 notable American chefs and their Rioja-inspired tapas creations. The jamon bar and cheese cave allows guests to savor the pride of Spain with delicious hanging hams and Spain’s finest cheeses. Wine tasting seminars, hosted by preeminent Rioja wine and cultural experts promise to enlighten guests about the depth and richness of the region.

Beyond just the one-day festival, Rioja Week celebrations will continue through the week with tasting events, flights, food pairings and special discounts in restaurants and retail shops around Chicago and in select markets across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Orlando and Los Angeles.

«With the tremendous success of last year’s Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival, we are thrilled to bring the flavor of Rioja to the Windy City», said Luis Alberto Lecea, President of Rioja DOCa. «Chicago is an amazing food town that honors Rioja with countless restaurant and retail offerings – so it makes sense to bring our Tapas Festival to such a lively market».

To extend the celebration beyond Chicago, @RiojaWine and tapas lovers can get a taste of the #RiojaBuzz with the #ShareYourPair Photo Contest. For a chance to win a Rioja dinner for two and other tasty prizes, «Riojagraphers» around the U.S. are invited to tag a photo of their favorite Rioja wine and tapas pairing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with #RiojaBuzz and #ShareYourPair.

Tickets for the Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival are $65, with proceeds benefiting culinary scholarships at the James Beard Foundation (jamesbeard.org).