THE RIOJA DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN is in the North of Spain, on both sides of the Ebro River. Fortuitous geographic accidents in this zone have helped create a natural region that is perfectly delimited and differentiated from neighbouring areas. The 62,000 hectares that compose this Denomination of Origin are divided up into three different provinces: La Rioja represents almost 70% of the surface area, and Álava and Navarra the rest, with altitudes that vary between 350 and 650 metres.

The Rioja Denomination of Origin is divided into three well-differentiated subzones. The Rioja Alta is the biggest, and starts from Haro (The westernmost point) to Logroño. The Rioja Baja is the second largest in terms of surface area, and runs from Logroño to Alfaro in the easternmost area and produces wines with body and colour. Lastly, the Rioja Alavesa, represents the smallest area and is the home to traditional young red wines made through carbonic maceration.

The soils of Rioja have a balanced structure, slightly alkaline, with little organic material and moderate hydric availability in the summer. Limestone clay predominates in the Rioja Alavesa; in Rioja Alta, limestone and ferruginous clay and alluvial soils; and in Rioja Baja, ferruginous clay and alluvial soils.