Located on the western edge of the region and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known more for its "old world" style of wine.

A higher elevation equates to a shorter growing season, which in turn produces brighter fruit flavors and a wine that is lighter on the palate.

[3] The region of Rioja Alavesa is in the province of Álava in the Basque Country, on the northern bank of the River Ebro.

Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity.

[4] A number of the vineyards are actually located in nearby Navarra but the wine produced from those grapes belongs to the Rioja appellation.

Rioja authorized, for the first time since 1925, the incorporation of some additional varieties within the limits of the denomination, changes that were reflected in two modifications of the existing Regulation approved in 2004: BOE-A-2008-4991 and BOE -A-2009-8950, but this has been subject to subsequent amendment.

On the contrary, in the foreign white varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Verdejo) it is established that they can not be the predominant ones in the final composition of the wine.

Depending on the time the wine remains in the barrel it is classified as: In 2018, the Regulating Council released new classification rules for Rioja, in an attempt to encourage championship of regional microclimates and put a greater focus on singular vineyard sites.

One notable example of this the Marqués de Murrieta which released its 1942 vintage gran reserva in 1983 after 41 years of aging.

[11] Some winemakers utilize a derivative of carbonic maceration in which whole clusters are placed in large open vats and allowed to ferment inside the individual grape berries, without the addition of yeast, for a few days before they are crushed.

In recent times there has been more emphasis on securing vineyard land and making estate bottled wines from the bodegas.