Whether you’re a wine newbie or a proper sommelier, chances are you’ve heard of the Rioja wine region in Spain. It’s up there with Champagne, Bordeaux, and Napa Valley as one of the most famous wine regions in the world. Rioja wines are a go-to choice for many drinkers, but many don’t realize that they produce much more than just the robust reds we know and love. A cute wine bar in King’s Cross, however, aims to change that by highlighting the region’s wine and just how diverse they can be.
Inside the ultra cosy Bar Rioja, guests can enjoy some of the best wines that Spain has to offer. A menu of over 40 wines encompasses the region’s three zones – Alta, Alavesa, and Oriental – and offers up so much more than just red wines. The selection also includes a number of white wines, rosados, and even some traditionally-made sparkling wines.
Credit: @bar.rioja via Instagram
Each wine is available in 75, 125, and 175ml glasses (or by the bottle, obviously), so you can drink widely whilst learning all about the area. It’s educational, you see – like a better version of Geography class! Plus, with plenty of the list priced at under £10 for a 125ml glass, it’s far more wallet-friendly than many other London wine bars.
To eat at Bar Rioja
Now, naturally, no wine-drinking session is complete without some food to nibble on. And, just like the wine list, the food offering nods to Rioja. Executive Chef Nacho del Campo has been inspired by the bars of the area’s capital, Logroño, which typically each specialise in one dish, served pincho style. Similarly, Bar Rioja serves up a selection of seasonal bite-sized dishes, each priced at just £2.75.
But if you’re a little bit hungrier, there’s also a menu of classic tapas dishes, cheeses, and charcuterie. These range from Patatas Bravas to Arroz Negro and even Suckling Pig From Segovia. Whether you’ve come hungry, or the wine has you feeling peckish, Bar Rioja has you more than sorted.
Is there anything better than a glass of wine and a few nibbles in a cosy wine bar on a cold winter’s night? (The answer is no. There is absolutely nothing better.)