La Rioja

Autonomous community and province of northern Spain; area 5,034 sq km/1,944 sq mi; population (2001 est) 270,400. The River Ebro passes through the region, but it is a tributary of the Río Oja, which gives its name to the region. A fertile region, La Rioja is famous for its fine wines (with a characteristic flavour derived from their storage in oak barrels) which are produced chiefly between Logroño and Haro in the upper Ebro valley. The capital is Logroño; other chief cities are Calahorra, Haro, and Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Economy The region has some copper, tin, lead, and coal deposits, but these have been only partly exploited. The economy is essentially based on agriculture, and the area is noted for its wine and fruit; other agricultural products include cereals, vegetables, olive oil, sugar beets, sheep, and some cattle and hogs. Aside from wine production, other agricultural industries include fruit and vegetable canning, meat processing, and distilling. Other manufacturing includes machinery, textiles, tobacco, and chemicals.