News
Parker’s Wine Advocate Awards Two Rioja Wines 100 Points
The 2025 Wine Advocate Report on Rioja, commonly known as The Parker List, has awarded two Rioja wines 100 points, the highest possible rating. This recognition reinforces Rioja’s reputation for producing world-class wines with strong market demand and aging potential.
100-Point Rioja Wines
The following wines received perfect scores from Luis Gutiérrez, the critic responsible for Rioja reviews in Wine Advocate:
- Quiñón de Valmira 2023 – Álvaro Palacios
- Las Beatas 2021 – Telmo Rodríguez
Quiñón de Valmira 2023 – Álvaro Palacios
Las Beatas 2021 – Telmo Rodríguez
These wines represent the best of modern Rioja, showcasing exceptional vineyard expression, meticulous winemaking, and a clear commitment to quality.
Strong Performance Across the Region
Beyond the two 100-point wines, 77 Rioja wines scored 95 points or higher, highlighting the region’s depth and diversity. Notable high scorers include:
- 99 points – Kalamity 2023, Oxer Bastegieta
- 98+ points – Tabuerniga 2021, Telmo Rodríguez
- 98 points – Grano a Grano Graciano 2021, Abel Mendoza
- 98 points – Mágico 2021, Sierra Cantabria
- 98 points – Camino de Ribas 2023, José Gil
- 98 points – Yjar 2021, Remélluri
99 points – Kalamity 2023, Oxer Bastegieta
98+ points – Tabuerniga 2021, Telmo Rodríguez
98 points – Grano a Grano Graciano 2021, Abel Mendoza
98 points – Mágico 2021, Sierra Cantabria
98 points – Camino de Ribas 2023, José Gil
98 points – Yjar 2021, Remélluri
These results confirm Rioja’s ability to compete at the highest level, across a range of styles including red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines.
Market and Regulatory Developments
The 2025 report also highlights key trends and regulatory updates impacting the Rioja trade:
- Expansion of “Viñedo En” Classification – This new designation complements the existing “Vinos de Pueblo” (Village Wines) category, providing more tools for differentiation and emphasizing single-vineyard origins.
- Preservation of Centenary Vineyards – The Rioja Control Board has now cataloged 97% of the region’s century-old vineyards, reinforcing the importance of vineyard heritage and sustainability.
What This Means for the Trade
For importers, distributors, and retailers, these high ratings present an opportunity to:
- Leverage increased consumer interest in Rioja’s top-scoring wines.
- Highlight the evolving classification system to educate customers on Rioja’s terroir-driven wines.
- Focus on heritage vineyards as a key selling point in premium wine markets.
With strong global demand for high-scoring wines, these results further solidify Rioja as a leader in fine wine production.