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.
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