The wine producing region of La Rioja
The region of Rioja is famous for its prolific vineyards and rightly renowned for its wineries, ‘bodegas’.
My principal character, Eden, has been abstaining from drinking alcohol for many months, since before becoming pregnant. Now having just recently stopped breastfeeding, this self-imposed isolation from a tipple no longer need be applied. In this sequence, she is persuaded to enjoy a glass of wine, from this prodigious wine producing region, and she accepts.
‘I think that was correct, you did the right thing. However maybe now is the time to enjoy some wine again?’ he suggested disarmingly and called out to the passing waiter, ‘Mi Rioja, por favor.’
I must admit here, I really do enjoy the wine from this region, I deliberately search for it when in a supermarket here in the U.K., so I just had to mention it in my story, both the region and the produce therefrom.
Looking satisfied, he glanced around just as the waiter approached with a bottle and two glasses on a tray that he was holding high above his shoulders to avoid the diners as he snaked his way between the tables and chairs. He stopped, lowered the tray in a sweeping flourish onto the table, then he placed the glasses in front of each of them, with speed and dexterity he opened the bottle with an old-fashioned corkscrew, it made a satisfying pop as the cork came out, and he poured a little wine into the glass next to the doctor.
‘Perfect.’ She had almost finished her glass. ‘Mmmm, this wine is delicious, JJ.’ The tension she had been feeling finally started to ease away.
‘I think red wine is the finest alcoholic drink, and, in my opinion, the region of Rioja produces the best of all the red wines.’ He slowly poured more wine into each glass.
Eden enjoys the taste and is transfixed by the turn in the, until now, refined conversation.
His wide rib cage slowly expanded and contracted, pensively he refilled their glasses. Eden sipped her Rioja. They continued eating in silence. “What am I supposed to do about his confession? I am a married woman with a child.” …
… Another few minutes passed by, no word was said. Slowly her panic attack receded and the Rioja assisted in transforming her state to one of mellowness, her thoughts returned to the food and she finished her plate with a renewed appetite. …
Rioja
Rioja is a wine region in Spain, with denominación de origen calificada. Rioja wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of La Rioja and Navarre, and the Basque province of Álava. Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Oriental and Rioja Alavesa. Many wines have traditionally blended fruit from all three regions, though there is a slow growth in single-zone wines.
I recommend a visit to the region and of course you will be going there especially to check out the bodegas, follow this link to find out more about such a relaxing yet rewarding place and space for a time out of your day to day hurly-burly. Bodegas de Rioja. (English version.) Bodegas de Rioja. (Spanish version.)
Another place to check out info. TURISMO DE VINO (English version.) TURISMO DE VINO (Spanish version.) and space for a time out of your day.