Rioja vs Chianti: Spanish vs Italian Red Wine Compared

 Rioja and Chianti are the two great everyday reds of southern Europe, and choosing between them is one of the most enjoyable decisions on the wine shelf. Both are made to be drunk with food, both come in longer-aged versions, and both sit side by side on almost every restaurant list in the country.

Pour a glass of Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2021 next to a Chianti Classico, and the difference shows in the first sip. One is ripe strawberry, plum, and gentle spice. The other is all sour cherry, leather, and a mineral finish.

This guide explains what separates the two, what the words on the label mean, which bottles from our shelves show each style at its best, and how to enjoy them at home.

What is the difference between Rioja and Chianti?

Rioja is a red wine from northern Spain, made under the DOCa Rioja designation. Its backbone is Tempranillo, usually blended with Garnacha and Graciano, and the style leans towards smooth, rounded red fruit with vanilla and gentle spice from time in oak. Our beginner's guide sums it up as easy-drinking and fruity, which is why it is such a reliable crowd-pleaser.

Chianti is a red wine from Tuscany in central Italy, made primarily from Sangiovese. It is known for bright acidity, cherry flavours and subtle herbal notes, with savoury touches of leather and tobacco in the more serious bottles. Where Rioja is soft and generous, Chianti is fresh and lively, with the grip to stand up to rich food.

So the short answer is this: Rioja is the smoother, fruitier wine and Chianti is the brighter, more savoury one. Neither is better than the other. They simply suit different plates and different moods. Texture is the easiest way to tell them apart in the glass: a Rioja Reserva such as Marqués de Murrieta glides through on silky tannins, while a Chianti such as Fontodi keeps a firmer, juicier edge that leaves your palate refreshed and ready for the next bite.

Understanding the labels: Reserva, Riserva, Classico and DOCa

The words on a Spanish or Italian label tell you a lot once you know how to read them.

DOCa Rioja is the official designation for wine from the Rioja region, and sub-regions such as Rioja Alta sometimes appear too. Reserva on a Rioja label means the wine has been given longer ageing before release, which brings extra depth and softer tannins. Our beginner's guide picks Rioja Reserva as a classic choice for gifting for exactly that reason.

On the Italian side, Chianti Classico marks the historic heart of the region, while Chianti Rufina is a separate zone with its own name on the label. Riserva is the Italian equivalent of Reserva, again signalling longer ageing and a fuller, more developed wine. Closures vary too: the entry-level deAlto Rioja comes under screw cap for easy opening, while the Reservas, Fontodi and the Chianti cases are all sealed with natural cork.

Rioja: the smooth, fruit-led choice

Rioja is the bottle to reach for when you want a red that pleases everyone at the table. The blend does the work here: Tempranillo leads, and producers such as Marqués de Murrieta add Garnacha and Graciano to the mix, so even a young bottle like deAlto feels rounded and generous rather than sharp.

A great place to start is deAlto Tradicional Rioja 2024 at £12.95. It blends Garnacha and Tempranillo at 13.5% ABV, is vegan-friendly and comes under screw cap. Expect hints of spice and red fruits on the nose, then layers of red berry fruit laced with vanilla, mocha and liquorice on the palate.

Step up to a Reserva and the wine gains real polish. Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2021 from Rioja Alta is £34.95 and 14% ABV, with an expressive nose of strawberry, cherry and red plum, followed by black pepper, sandalwood, Mediterranean herbs and red tea, all carried by silky tannins to an elegant finish. Bodegas Luis Cañas Selección de la Familia Rioja Reserva 2020 (£32.95, 14.1% ABV) is organic and vegan, showing ripe strawberries and plums with well-integrated tannins and subtle oak.

If you are buying for a party or a cellar, Rioja Reserva also comes by the case. Bodegas LAN Viña Lanciano Reserva 2021 is £164.95 for six, Viña Izadi Reserva 2021 is £230.95 for a case of 12, and La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Rioja Reserva 2020 is available as a single 150cl magnum at £174.95. You can browse them all in our Spanish red wines collection.

Chianti: the bright, savoury choice

Chianti is the bottle to reach for when you want freshness, cherry fruit and a wine that comes alive with food. Sangiovese gives every Chianti its signature sour cherry and bright acidity, and the best producers add layers of leather, tobacco and herbs on top.

Fontodi Chianti Classico 2022 (£36.95, 14.5% ABV, organic) is the benchmark on our shelves. It is deep ruby red, with perfumes of sour cherry and plums leading to leather and tobacco, a juicy palate with supple tannins, a silky texture and a mineral finish. Sangiovese's natural brightness is what keeps the wine feeling fresh even at 14.5% ABV, so it rarely feels heavy. Buying it as a case of six brings the price down to £29.99 a bottle.

Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 (case of six, £137.95, which works out at £22.99 a bottle) is traditionally styled, velvety yet robust, with earthy liquorice notes and a savoury finish. Fattoria Selvapiana Vigneto Erchi Chianti Rufina 2021 (case of six, £150.95, 13.5% ABV, sustainable and vegan) is fruit-packed with crushed cherry, raspberry compote, mint and star anise, backed by bright acidity, polished tannins and a long, fine finish.

For more Sangiovese and the rest of Tuscany, explore our Italian red wines collection.

How to enjoy Rioja and Chianti at home

Both wines are easy to get right, but a few habits make them shine.

• Match Chianti with tomato and herbs. Its acidity and cherry fruit are why our pizza pairing guide names it the classic choice, and the same logic applies to pasta with a rich tomato sauce.
  
  

• Let Rioja do the crowd-pleasing. Our beginner's guide names Tempranillo, Rioja's main grape, among the crowd-pleasing wines for a dinner party, and our winter guide counts it among the warming reds for cold nights, so it works from a midweek supper to a festive table.
  
  

• Serve them with a little care. A Rioja Reserva or a Chianti Riserva has spent years developing, so give it a proper glass and a few minutes in the air before you judge it.
  
  

• Think about the case. Fontodi, Carpineto, Selvapiana, Bodegas LAN and Viña Izadi are all available by the case, and buying by the case brings the per-bottle price down.

Common questions about Rioja and Chianti

Is Rioja sweeter than Chianti?

Both are dry reds. Rioja tastes rounder and fruitier thanks to its ripe red berry fruit and vanilla from oak, while Chianti's bright acidity and sour cherry make it taste crisper and more savoury.

What grape is Rioja made from?

Tempranillo is the main grape, often blended with Garnacha and Graciano. deAlto Tradicional, for example, is a Garnacha and Tempranillo blend.

What grape is Chianti made from?

Chianti is made primarily from Sangiovese. Fontodi Chianti Classico 2022 and Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2021 are both listed as Sangiovese on our shelves.

What does Reserva or Riserva mean?

Both words tell you the wine has been given longer ageing before release, which usually brings more depth and softer tannins.

Which is better with pizza, Rioja or Chianti?

Chianti. Its bright acidity, cherry fruit and herbal notes are made for tomato, cheese, and herbs, which is why our pizza pairing guide names it the classic choice.

Which is the better first bottle?

deAlto Tradicional Rioja 2024 at £12.95 is the friendliest way in. For Chianti, Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva at £22.99 a bottle by the case offers strong value.

A final thought

Rioja and Chianti are not rivals so much as two answers to different evenings.

Choose Rioja when you want smooth red fruit and a bottle that pleases everyone. Choose Chianti when you want freshness, cherry and a wine that makes a tomato sauce sing.

Both, and many more Spanish and Italian reds, are ready to order from our red wines collection. Please enjoy responsibly.