La Rioja is a relatively small wine-growing region in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in western Argentina. The region is one of the oldest in the country and arguably the first place in Argentina where vines were planted. The region is named after the world-famous Spanish region Rioja by Juan Ramirez de Velasco, a settler from Rioja itself. It is a mountainous region with a hot climate, mild nights and severe drought, where irrigation is necessary. The altitude with the latitude and great the solar exposure determines differential temperatures and humid conditions in this dry environment. La Rioja has sandy, alluvial soils of mountainous origin providing the viticultural areas with excellent terrain for grape production. The most planted grape varieties are Torrontés, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda, as the Torrontés is the white wine star producing wines with green hues and intensely fruity aromas with a medium in structure and the acidity is moderate to low. La Rioja is certainly one of the best and most interesting wine regions of Argentina.