Wine: Tradition meets innovation in Rioja

It may be one of the world’s best-loved wine regions, but Rioja isn’t resting on its laurels

The wines of the Rioja area are predominantly red and are more often than not blends of different grape varieties led by the regal tempranillo

Walking slowly down Calle del Laurel in the Spanish city of Logroño stopping at each bar, sipping wine and sampling their speciality dish is arguably the best way to toe the fine line between wine tasting and drinking.

There’s the bar that makes mushrooms so dripping in garlic butter that there is a technique to removing the cocktail stick so the tiny piece of bread soaks it all up and none is wasted. The spot ...