{"api":{"host":"https:\/\/pinot.decanter.com","authorization":"Bearer OGZmYmZlM2Q3MTVmOGEwMzVhMGU5OWY1NjEwZjg2NjMwMDY1YzgyYzJhMTFhMjcwOGFmNGYzMjlhMDU0OGJlMw","version":"2.0"},"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"6qv8OniKQO","rid":"RJXC8OC","offerId":"OFPHMJWYB8UK","offerTemplateId":"OFPHMJWYB8UK","wcTemplateId":"OTOW5EUWVZ4B"}}

1981 vintage guide for Spain Rioja

drink soon

An excellent vintage producing intense, deeply coloured wines

Weather Conditions

Best Appellations

Best Producers

This was a ‘nearly’ year when quite a few major producers made excellent wines, most notably Faustino, Luís Cañas, Salceda, Montecillo, Olarra, Lopez-Heredia and Ondarre. Gran Reserva wine was made from 12% of the grapes harvested – more than in the grade-5 year 1982 – which tells its own story.

Latest Wine News