Rioja Masterclass – Tradition, Terroir and Time

Rioja: Then, Now & Next – masterclass with Scott Wasley.

For too long, Rioja has been reduced to a conversation about oak. That story is outdated. Today, Rioja is one of the most dynamic fine wine regions in the world — where site-driven, modern producers sit alongside benchmark traditional houses. These are wines built to age, but equally compelling from the moment they’re released. This tasting is designed to show that full picture in a manner that Australia has never seen.

At its core is Tempranillo, explored across producers, philosophies, and decades — from vibrant, village-driven expressions to fully resolved, long-aged classics. Alongside it, Viura, Garnacha and Mazuelo add further dimension, revealing just how deep and diverse Rioja can be. And then there’s the timeline. We move from current releases back to a bottle from 1970 — over half a century of evolution in the glass. Not theory. Not discussion. You’ll taste what Rioja becomes. Rather than focusing on a single producer, this is a cross-section of Rioja’s most compelling voices — from the new guard redefining the region to the estates that built its reputation.

Guiding the tasting is Scott, whose deep focus on Spanish wines — particularly Rioja — brings both clarity and insight. His ability to connect vineyard, producer and vintage makes this more than a tasting; it’s a rare chance to understand why these wines matter. The reality is simple: wines of this pedigree, age and rarity are rarely accessible in a single sitting. Some bottles are extremely limited — and once opened, they’re gone. If you want to understand Rioja — not just what it is, but what it was and what it can become — this is the tasting. Seats are limited and will sell out.

Wines on show:

• Alegre & Valgañón (Viura, 2022)

• Telmo Rodriguez (‘Lanzaga’ – Tempranillo, 2020)

• Alegre & Valgañón (Garnacha – white clay / red clay, 2021)

• Miguel Merino (‘La Quinta Cruz’ – Mazuelo (Single Vineyard), 2021)

• Alegre & Valgañón (Tempranillo–Garnacha, 2022)

• Urbina (Crianza – Tempranillo, 2015)

• Urbina (Reserva Especial – Tempranillo, 2006)

• Urbina (Gran Reserva Especial – Tempranillo, 2004)

• Miguel Merino (‘Vitola Reserva’ – Tempranillo (Briones), 2020)

• Roda (‘Roda I’ – Tempranillo, 2005)

• Bodegas Faustino (‘Faustino V’ – Tempranillo, 1970)

However, this simply leans into a huge offer of wines you can purchase – some fully aged, some halfway there, some with whole lives ahead of them. The combination of wines on tasting and wines on offer to purchase massively exceeds any offering of Rioja made previously in Australia.

Snacks will be provided from Simon and Johnson