For high quality red wines at a reasonable price there are two words you should never forget, Rioja and Crianza. Rioja is Spain's most famous wine region located in the hilly north of the country.

Winemaking in this region dates back thousands of years to the Phoenicians and Celtiberians, but it wasn't until the mid-to-late 19th century that the region gained global recognition for making great wines.

At this point of history, winemakers in Bordeaux were devastated by the phylloxera vine disease and many settled in Rioja, bringing their considerable winemaking skills. In 1991, Rioja became the first region in Spain to receive the Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa), the nation's highest designation of quality for wines.

The term Crianza means a Spanish red wine aged at least one year in oak that can not be released until two years after the harvest. Many top producers age their Crianza wines even longer. This careful aging imparts a wonderful smoothness and soft texture to the wines.

There are also Rioja Reserva and Rioja Grand Reserva wines that are aged longer and are more costly, but Crianza level wines offer the best price to quality ratio.

All Rioja Crianza wines are predominantly made with the tempranillo grape. This variety features a thick skin that results in plenty of tannins but is low in acidity and sugar.