Rioja Roundup 

	Welcome to Rioja, in the northeast of Spain. The Sierra Cantabria mountain range is the spine that runs through the wine region.
	The "little bush" training system that is used everywhere in Rioja.
	Another ubiquitous feature: tapas, originally designed to tide people over until Spain's late dinner hour.
	Paella alternates with grilled meats and jamon as Spain's favorite dish.
	The tour begins in the Ribera de Duero region. Here is a castle overlooking the Duero river and town of Peñafiel.
	The Cathdral of Burgos, the third largest in Spain, is a sightseeing stop en route from Peñafiel to Rioja.
	Modern architecture, coupled with traditional wine, at the Lopez di Heredia winery.
	Rioja's traditional, long-aged, semi-oxidized style is the hallmark of Lopez di Heredia. Our tastings start here, to see Rioja's stylistic origins.
	Modern-style Rioja is found at Roda. Here we see the family's emblem, the thistle, in their barrrel-aging room.
	A field trip takes us to the experimental vineyards of Roda, which is a leader in research on the 452 clonal varieites of tempranillo, the key grape in Rioja wine.
	With Roda export manager Gonzalo Lainez, in their sleek tasting room.
	The Roda line-up includes three stellar Riojas, plus olive oil.
	A castle in Samaniego faces Remirez de Ganuza, one of the boutique Rioja wineries born in the 1980’s.
	The comfy Vieja Bodega, a countryside restaurant where local winemakers come to dine and talk shop.
	Restaurant co-owner Marina in La Vieja Bodega's well-stocked wine cellar.
	The Guggenheim Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, is a worthy side trip one morning.
	The elegant Baroque town of Briones, once home to noble families, now houses boutique winemakers like Miguel Merino.
	Spanish Gothic architecture inside the Cathedral of Briones.
	Miguel Merino runs what he proclaims is, "the smallest winery in Rioja," -- and one of the finest.
	Au naturel: Merino's winery gear includes this bundle of vine canes used for filtration.
	Ancient ruins dot the Rioja countryside.
	Enologist and agronomist Jesus de Madrazo Mateo outside the Contino winery, which pioneered the practice of Bordeaux-style chateaux in Rioja.
	An old aging barrel, twice the size of the adjacent door at Contino.
	In the cellar, the winemaker offers an impromptu tasting of Graciano, a local grape Contino helped save from extinction.
	Sampling Contino's delectable Riojas in the formal tasting room with the winemaker.
	After designing the Guggenheim Bilbao, architect Frank Gehry was invited to do a hotel and spa at the Marques di Riscal winery. Here we see the architectural model.
	The Marques di Riscal's new building, in the flesh.
	The winery dedicated a label in 2001 to the American architect, Frank Gehry.
	A key winery historically, the Marques di Riscal was the first to bottle Rioja for commercial release -- in 1862.
	Muga, a traditionalist in Rioja winemaking, uses only oak for wine storage and has its own cooperage inside the winery.
	Some of Muga's vast tracts of oak. Though a traditionalist in style, the winery makes fresh, modern wines.
	Swans adorn a fountain dedicated to the grape varieties of Spain.