La Rioja is located in northern
Spain on both sides of the River Ebro. Logroño it’s the capital. La Rioja was
the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status in 1925, and in 1991, it
became the first Spanish DOCa (Qualified Designation of Origin). The DOCa is
divided in to three subdivisions: La Rioja Alta in the southwest, La Rioja
Alavesa in the northwest, and La Rioja Baja in the east.
The grapes varieties by the
Regulations of the DOCa are:
Reds →Tempranillo, Graciano,
Garnacha, Muzuela, and Maturana
Whites → Garnacha, Chardonnay,
Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasía, Viura, Tempranillo Blanco, Verdejo
→By law all the barrels used in La
Rioja must be 225 liters oak casks
→The primary red grape use is
Tempranillo also Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo, and Graciano are permitted in the
blend.
→ White wines are made from
Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía grapes
La Rioja wines are labeled
according to age like all Spanish DO and DOCa
● Vin Joven (tinto joven): Rarely
aged in oak and must be consumed right away.
● Crianza: The red wines must age
at least 1 year in oak barrels.
● Reserva: The wines must age at
least 1 year in oak barrels and two years in the bottle.
● Gran Reserva: The wines must age
for more than 2 years in oak barrels and more than 3 in the bottle.
● Rose (pink): Requires 2 years, at
least 6 months in oak barrels
