The Rioja Wine Festival by WineOnline.ie is back and more bountiful than ever

Ireland is obsessed with wines from Rioja in Spain, and for good reason too. Approachable, accessible and delicious with consistent quality year-on-year, most wines from Rioja are produced in a traditional style with oak and fruit playing a key role. However, many smaller producers are moving away from this traditional style and ageing their wine for less time, which results in more emphasis on fruit and flair. Single Vineyard classified wines, the third style, have been produced since 2018. They are made from a single plot with a lower yield, but very high quality.

If this information about the intricacies of wine from Rioja has piqued your interest, you should join WineOnline.ie at their annual Rioja Wine Festival, which is taking place at The Davenport Hotel on Merrion Street Lower, Dublin 2 on Saturday October 21 2023.

This year, the event will be run over two sessions – 1-4pm and 5.30 -8.30pm - in order to allow guests to try as many wines as possible and maximise their interaction with winemakers. There will also be two 45 minute masterclasses taking place during each session with John Wilson, Irish Times wine columnist, and Fergal Tynan, Winemaker and Master of Wine.

MASTERCLASSES

MASTERCLASS 1: THE DIVERSITY OF RIOJA WITH JOHN WILSON

John Wilson is a highly respected wine columnist for the Irish Times. After 15 years buying and selling at all levels of the wine trade, he embarked on a career in wine journalism in 2001. He will present six very different wines, taking you on a tour of the region and some of the best wines he has found in his many trips there. Expect to learn about recent changes in the Rioja region, as well as the introduction of the Viñedos Singulares classification, which is allowing winemakers to label their wines with their individual vineyard.

MASTERCLASS 2: RIOJA STYLES & COMPARISONS - WHERE GRENACHE IS KING WITH FERGAL TYNAN

From Co Kildare, Fergal Tynan has been working with wine since the early 90s. He is now one of just 418 people worldwide to hold the Master of Wine title. He ran a distribution company across the UK before distributing throughout Ireland with WineOnline.ie one of the first to work with him. Tynan began making wine in the early 2000s and now also consults on projects in the Americas. He will also present six wines and his masterclass will focus on wines that he has made or consulted on, from Rioja in Spain, Aude in France and McLaren Vale in Australia. He will discuss the differences in climate, culture and winemaking technique as well as bringing attendees through the reasons he plants and champions the varietals he does.

Just 60 seats are available for each masterclass. There are two masterclasses per session, one by John Wilson and one by Fergal Tynan. Please ensure you purchase the right Masterclass tickets as tickets will be non-transferrable. Secure your tickets now at WineOnline.ie.

Tickets

– General Admission Ticket: €35 per person – taste over 100 wines, receive your own wine tasting glass to keep, plus a tote bag, tasting booklet, charcuterie and cheese

– Premium Journalist Masterclass Ticket: €45 per person or €80 for 2 - includes general access as per above, plus access to a Rioja masterclass of your choice with either John Wilson, Irish Times wine columnist, or Fergal Tynan, Master of Wine and Winemaker. Each masterclass also includes six further wines to taste plus a Q&A with the host..

Get €10 cashback with every ticket purchased, which is redeemable against any purchase of 6 or more bottles at The Rioja Wine Festival. Visit WineOnline.ie to book your ticket now.

You’ll taste

You’ll be given a tasting booklet and glass upon entry to guide you through more than 100 wines which will be available to taste. Most of the top Rioja estates will be present for you to engage with as you taste white, red and rosé wines throughout the day.

You’ll enjoy

– Cheese and charcuterie boards from the executive chef at The Davenport Hotel

– €10 cashback to spend on any wine purchased at The Rioja Wine Festival. WineOnline.ie will deliver these to your home or work address

– A complimentary tote bag and tasting glass

– A tasting booklet and wine guide to the festival upon arrival

– Exclusive Festival offers on the day

New for 2023

This year, you’ll also get to enjoy The Discovery Zone, a dedicated area of the festival that highlights other regions from Spain. You’ll get to try the wines of Rueda, famous for their climate resistant and refreshing Verdejo white wines, Rías Baixas, where the Albariño grape is king, and Ribera del Duero, known for its rich, vibrant and powerful red wines – you'll travel the length and breath of Spain without leaving Dublin.

Visit WineOnline.ie now to secure your ticket