Rioja + Wine Spectator
Opening Taste
Tribute to a Legacy. Vision for the Future.
Thursday, October 22, 2026 · 4:00–5:45 PM
The View at New York Marriott Marquis, 48th Floor
1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Welcome to an intimate Rioja tasting celebrating tradition and innovation. Twenty-four wines are poured across two tables: one honoring the heritage and established traditions of the region, the other showcasing the evolution and new directions shaping its future, all accompanied by gourmet bites. Use this guide to explore each wine as you taste.
Tribute to a Legacy · 12 winesVision for the Future · 12 winesFind a Wine
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The Legacy Table
Tribute to a Legacy
Celebrating Rioja’s heritage, history and established winemaking traditions.
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C.V.N.E Imperial 2018
Tasting Notes Red cherry in colour. A complex nose of blackberry, gooseberry, strawberry and liquorice, with roasted coffee, chocolate, clove, toffee and cigar leaf from the barrel. Smooth on entry with soft, elegant tannins and a long, fruity finish with balsamic notes. |
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Finca Valpiedra Finca Valpiedra 2016
Tasting Notes Deep cherry with a cardinal rim. An intense, complex and elegant nose of mineral notes, red and black fruit and hints of incense, with vanilla, cedar, blond tobacco and spice from French oak. Smooth and full on the palate, with very fine tannins, Graciano freshness and a long finish. |
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Hacienda López de Haro Classica 2013
Tasting Notes Salmon with coppery highlights. A silky, floral nose with grapefruit and orange peel, lifted by balsamic and menthol freshness. Full on the attack and finely balanced, with great length, a saline touch and stone fruit on the finish. |
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Bodegas Faustino Faustino I 2004
Tasting Notes Bright garnet and medium-bodied. Tertiary aromas of prunes and ripe fruit with spice, balsamic notes and black pepper from the Graciano. Liquorice, candied fruit and cocoa on the palate, with balanced acidity, polished tannins and a sweet, delicate finish. |
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Viñedos del Contino Contino Garnacha 2020
Tasting Notes Elegant and balanced, made with a focus on drawing out aroma and flavour. Highly stony clay-calcareous soils give good drainage and access to minerals, resulting in a fresh, mineral wine. |
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Viñedos del Contino Contino Blanco 2022
Tasting Notes Highly aromatic and complex, with a deep nose where fruit and toasty notes stand out. Round and elegant on the palate, with vibrant acidity and salinity that give it ageing potential; an expression of the San Gregorio vineyard. |
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Baron de Ley El Coto de Imaz 2019
Tasting Notes Brilliant ruby with russet tones. Toast and coconut open into leather, wet earth, red fruit and dried fruit as the wine breathes. Round, silky tannins and a persistent, complex finish. |
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Bodega Akutain Akutain 2020
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Bodegas LAN LAN a Mano 2022
Tasting Notes Deep, almost opaque garnet. Blackberry, blueberry and ripe plum with clove, cinnamon and roasted coffee around the fruit and minerality. Powerful, broad and well structured, with attractive tannins and a long finish. |
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Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta Colección Familia 2015
Tasting Notes Deep, bright gold. An expressive nose of yellow apple, floral and herbal notes and dried fruit, well integrated with subtle oak, developing dried flowers, pollen and the first hints of honey. Fresh, elegant and complex, with remarkable length. |
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Bodegas Muriel Conde de los Andes 2018
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Bodegas Murua Veguín de Murua 2016
Tasting Notes Intense, bright garnet. A powerful nose of dried grass, mint, spice and balsamic notes. Fresh and harmonious yet powerful, with good volume and great balance; with air, smoky notes, cinnamon, clove, thyme and spice emerge. |
The Future Table
Vision for the Future
Showcasing Rioja’s evolution, innovation and the new directions shaping the region.
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Aiurri Aiurri 2023
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Arizcuren Bodega Barranco del Prado 2023
Tasting Notes Wild, dense and concentrated, with intense floral and wild herb aromas, violets and incense, and the freshness of fruit grown at almost 800 metres. |
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El Pacto Viñedos en el Alto Najerilla 2024
Tasting Notes Bright, medium straw yellow. A complex nose of hay, cream and pastry with subtle citrus. Long and vibrant on the palate, with firm acidity, real volume and a broad, creamy texture. |
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Marqués de Cáceres La Halconera 2022
Tasting Notes Deep in colour. Opens with ripe black fruit, creamy toast, liquorice and stone fruit. Fresh fruit on entry gives way to dense, juicy, ripe tannins and a lively, tannic finish. |
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Bodega Bideona L3Z4 2021
Tasting Notes The most structured of Bideona’s village wines, from Leza’s higher, cooler vineyards: dense, inky tannins, dark fruit and black cherry, with herbal complexity reminiscent of thyme and rosemary. |
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Bodegas Beronia Vareia 2020
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Bodegas Familiares Matarromera CM Viña Garugele 2018
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Bodegas Manzanos Palacio de Manzanos 2017
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Bodegas Izadi Izadi El Regalo 2022
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Bodegas Ondarre La Escaleruela 2023
Tasting Notes Varietal and floral aromas typical of Mazuelo dominate, with very subtle spicy notes. |
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Bodegas Queirón Mi Lugar 2022
Tasting Notes Bright straw-yellow with golden glints. An intense, elegant nose of white blossom, fennel and thyme with apricot, peach and plum, hints of pineapple and passion fruit, and touches of pastry, almond and toast. Lively, with body and volume, and honeyed fruit, clove and tobacco on the finish. |
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Gomez Cruzado Pancrudo 2022
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Thank you for joining us.
Your RSVP includes entry to the Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience Grand Tasting, beginning at 6:00 PM.