Vina Collada Marqués de Riscal Rioja 75cl

Red-fruit Rioja comfort, with just enough spice to keep you pouring. Viña Collada from Marqués de Riscal is the kind of Spanish red you can open on a random Tuesday and still feel like you made a great call.

If Rioja ever felt like a mystery aisle, start here. It’s a dry red built around Tempranillo, meaning you get bright cherry and plum flavours, plus that subtle oak-driven vanilla vibe that makes Rioja taste like “real wine” without turning it into homework.

• Appearance: Deep ruby red, clear and vibrant in the glass
• Nose: Ripe red cherry, plum, a little vanilla, and a warm hint of spice
• Palate: Dry and fruit-forward with soft, grippy tannins and a gentle oak note that adds depth
• Body: Medium-bodied, easy to drink but not boring
• Finish: Clean, lightly spiced, and pleasantly lingering

Food pairing (mandatory and actually useful): pour this with roast chicken and crispy potatoes, grilled lamb chops, or a manchego board with olives when you’re “just having a small snack” that turns into dinner.

This is also a smart pick for casual hosting. It’s friendly enough for everyone at the table, but it still has that Rioja signature, fruit plus oak, that makes people ask, “Wait, what is this bottle?”

If your usual red is Malbec, think of this as a slightly lighter, more savoury switch-up with brighter acidity and a touch more spice. If you’re a Cabernet person, this is the smoother, less shouty option that still plays perfectly with grilled food.

Fun Fact: Marqués de Riscal is one of Rioja’s most famous names, and their winery in Rioja is so iconic it became a design landmark, not just a place to make wine.