Tucked away in a courtyard just minutes away from King’s Cross station, Camino co-founder Richard Bigg’s new venture is UK’s only wine bar dedicated solely to wines from a single region of northern Spain.

Bar Rioja, which opened in June celebrates Spain’s best-known wine region, showcasing the quality and variety of its wines alongside pinchos and tapas chosen to match the wines.

Together with Hannah Duffy Russo, Camino Head of Drinks and Executive Chef Nacho del Campo, Richard blind tasted 220 wines to make final choice of 40 that make the Bar Rioja list.

Representing Rioja’s three zones, Alta, Alavesa and Oriental, all wines are available by 75 or 125ml glass and bottle. And while the region is best known for red wines, Bar Rioja’s list includes a disproportionate number ofnwhites alongside a selection of rosados and a couple of sparkling wines made in the traditional method. A section of ‘Bigb Guns’ highlights wines made outside of the traditional barrel aging system that highly impressed Richard and team

To accompany the wines, Nacho, who hails from Vitoria in the neighbouring Basque country, took inspiration from Rioja’s capital Logroño where dozens of bars on Calle Laurel specialise in just one dish served pincho style. Bar Rioja’s seasonal pincho selection is displayed in the bar and priced at £2.50 each.

Classic tapas, cheese and charcuterie are also available for those wanting something more substantial and feature the likes of Lamb Rump with pea purée, artichokes from Navarra, thyme jus; 21 day dry-aged Galician
fillet steak and signature Arroz negro.

With only 28 covers, Bar Rioja is an intimate space. The design, by B3 Designers is inspired by the region and features a bespoke map of Rioja’s 3 wine producing zones. Whitewashed walls are lined in long dark oak shelves housing the wine bottles and the seating is flexible allowing for more intimate or group settings. Double glass doors open into the courtyard and a further 16 covers, an ideal spot for a leisurely evening sampling the best this exciting region of Spain can offer.

With a full half of the list priced at under £10 per 125ml glass, Bar Rioja also offers fantastic value for money. Richard’s aim is for everyone to be able to try every wine on the list and learn more about this beautiful part of the world.

Address: 3 Varnishers Yard, The Regent Quarter, London, N1 9FD
Telephone: 020 7841 7331
Website: barrioja.co.uk

Social media: @bar.rioja