STUDY GUIDE: RIOJA
Facts I find fascinating:
Rioja is one of only two DOCa regions designated in Spanish wine law.
They use the word elaborar (to elaborate) not fabricar (to produce, to manufacture) to describe wine making throughout Spain.
- Most Spanish producers follow the long standing tradition to age for a long time in barrels. (In the past Spanish wines were aged longer than any other wines in the world).
- Spain has more land planted with grapes than any other nation in the world, they do not, however, produce the most wine. (They rank 3rd).
- In 1995 the law officially allowed Spanish growers to irrigate
La Rioja DOCA
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCES
- Sheltered by the Pyrenees Mountains (NE) divides France and Spain
- Cantabrian Mountains in the (NW) highlands shelter Rioja from the Atlantic winds that would otherwise tear the vines apart.
- Oja Tributary (how Rioja was named)
- Ebro River (from the western Cantabrian's)
MAIN GRAPES
Red
* These grapes must comprise a minimum of 85% of a Red Rioja Blend or 95% if destemmed.
"Experimental" Grapes such as Monastel or Cabernet Sauvignon may make up the remainder
- Tempranillo
- Garnacha
- Mazuelo (Caginan)
- Graciano
- Maturana Tinta
White
* Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo may be used but cannot account for more than 49% combined.
- Macabéo (Viura)
- Malvasia
- Garnacha Blanca
- Tempranillo Blanco
- Turruntés
- Maturana Blanca
Rioja Aging Requirements
Aging Level
Total Aging Requirement
Minimum Oak
Crianza
2 years
1 year
Reserva
3 years
1 year
Gran Reserva
5 years
2 years/ +3 years in bottle
Rioja Alavesa, Laguardia, Spain Photo by Iker Urteaga on Unsplash
Rioja Regions
RIOJA ALTA
- southwestern zone, slightly warmer climate, creates classic ageworthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo, & Granciano
- shares soil structure similar to Rioja Alavesa: Calcareous clay base
RIOJA ALAVESA
- smallest, northernmost zone. Known for vino joven (wines for early drinking where carbonic maceration takes place.. like beaujolais nouvau)
- Part of Basque Country (they have their own language, police force & tax breaks)
RIOJA BAJA
- hottest subregion
- soil is alluvial & ferrous clay
- Granacha does best here
* Many times grapes are sourced form all three of these subregions to make a base *Rioja* style, in this circumstance each region brings a different quality to the base wine:
Rioja Alavesa - freshness
Rioja Baja - extraction & alcoholic heat
Rioja Alta - acidity & structure
Flavor profiles
The Tempranillo wines of Rioja have traditionally been aged in American oak barrels, for extensive time periods, and have a marked vanilla, sweetness to them. The thin skin of the Tempranillo grape and extended aging creates a delicate wine with notes of strawberry, cherry, vanilla and leather, medium plus tannins and medium minus acidity.
Garnacha of Spain is packed full of juicy red fruit flavors. Production quality varies greatly between high and low end Garnacha from Rioja. This grape can be added to Tempranillo wines to add body and make more approachable Rioja. Garnacha also usually produces much of the rosado wines produced in Rioja.
Top Rioja Producers:
López de Heredia
Produces single vineyard wines from estate vineyard bottlings like Bosconia and Tondonia
Marqués de Murrieta
One of Rioja's oldest producers, very traditional in style. Top wine from this producer is the Castillo d’Ygay Gran Reserva Especial.
Artadi
A more modern style producer with a huge presence with deep concentration and layered flavors of herbs, licorice and plum.
All material from this website is sourced from the resources noted in the Spanish Study Guides Index Page.