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Wines from Rioja's 10X10 returns for second year

Published:  28 September, 2016

Wines from Rioja is once again preparing to unveil its 10x10 line-up of some of the region's most outstanding wines.

Launched last year, the 10x10 event aims to offers a snapshot of Rioja's quality and diversity, showcasing the 10 best wines in 10 different styles, blind tasted and selected by a panel of experts.

This year, all Rioja producers - including those without a UK importer -, were invited to submit wines to the panel, chaired by Tim Atkin MW and Sarah Jane Evans MW.

The ten categories, which were chosen to represent the broad spectrum of wines from the region, consist of unoaked whites, oaked whites, rosados, Crianza, Reserva 2009 and earlier, Reserva 2010 and later Grandes Reservas, reds made from non-Tempranillo varietals and generic wines over £15.

The tenth category this year was a Chairs' Choice, allowing Atkin and Evans to pick their personal favourites.

The final list of chosen wines will be revealed at the Wines from Rioja 10x10 tasting on Tuesday, October 11, at Banking Hall, London.

Visitors will be invited to discover what "Rioja is all about", with wines ranging from reds made solely from Maturana, to a 1996 Gran Reserva and a 100% Mazuelo Rosado.

Quality will also be a key focus, Atkin said, adding: "the tasting demonstrated that Spain's largest fine wine region is making better wines than ever".

A spokesperson for Wines of Rioja said 2016 has proven to be a successful year for the region, continuing to post positive growth in the UK market, despite challenging European trading conditions and an overall decline in the UK wine sector.

Volume sales have continued to rise, along with value, with the average price per bottle of Rioja in the UK coming in at 28% higher than the rest of the Spanish category.

It is also growing its share of value in the Spanish category to 48% (vs 37% in terms of volume).

"The Rioja 10x10 concept allows us to present the best Rioja wines, as judged by the expert panel, in a way which is both accessible and commercially relevant for members of the UK trade," Ricardo Aguiriano, marketing director for the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja said.

"The UK remains a key market for us and leads the way in embracing new styles emerging from the region whilst remaining loyal to the region's traditional offering. The Rioja market here continues to grow and diversify and the 10x10 tasting reflects the evolving tastes of the UK market."

Rioja 10x10 will be followed later in the autumn by the Rioja Recognises event, when Wines from Rioja will celebrate supporters who have shown ongoing commitment to the region.

A sommelier trip to the region, along with Shop Rioja - a UK-wide promotion working with retail outlets, and a through-the-line campaign with Waitrose are all to come this year as part of the yearlong campaign to support premiumisation in the category, and drive trial of the lesser known styles of Rioja.

Register for Rioja 10x10 at www.riojatasting.co.uk.

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