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PREMIUM

Bordeaux meets Rioja: report on a special tasting

The big names of Rioja and Bordeaux joined forces for a recent tasting of current releases and verticals of special vintages – including RODA’s first-ever white Rioja. Sarah Jane Evans MW reports from the Barrio de la Estación.

The two great wine regions of Bordeaux and Rioja came together recently, in the historic railway quarter, Barrio de la Estación of Haro in Rioja. The tastings brought together six Haro wineries with six Bordeaux châteaux.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for nine Spanish wine highlights from the Barrio de la Estación tasting


It was the railways that first threw Bordeaux and Rioja together – that and the phylloxera louse. Haro and Bordeaux have had an on-off relationship ever since.

In March 2022 the relationship was more definitely more on than off, with a tasting of current releases and verticals of special vintages. As a former ‘maquinista’ or ‘engine driver’ – a presenter of the masterclasses held by the Barrio bodegas – I was invited along for the ride.


See tasting notes and scores for nine Spanish wine highlights from the Barrio de la Estación tasting


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