Rioja wine area
Rioja wine region in Spain
Rioja a well known name whish very often came along in any wine lover consersation .Is reputation is world wide . The red wines from Rioja is described as a full body wine well rounded on the palate with sherry, blackurrant vanilla flavour and a hints of spices
Rioja is a wine region in north of Spain, with a "Qualified Designation of Origin" (.D.O.Ca) appellation . The region is situated on a plateau south of the Cantabrian Mountains.Home of the Oja river (Rio Oja) ,believe to have given the region its name. The area is split in three sudivision the Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja
The most widely used grapes to make red wine is Temprallino but other grapes are used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo to 20% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano sharing 20%. White wines less populare are made generaly from blended grapes with some Mavasia and Garnacha blanca .Athough some more international grapes varieties such Cabernet sauvignon is produced by some vineyards.The Rioja's wines makers following some strict classification criteria.
Rioja Wines Classification
- labeled Rioja less than a year in an oak barrel
- A crianza is wine aged for at least two ,years, at least one of which was in oak barrel
- Rioja Reserva is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak barrel.
- Rioja Gran Reserva wines have been aged at least two years in oak barrel and three years in bottle.
Also a semi-crianza style is produced with a couple of months oak barrel.But those wines are not called a full crianza. The designation of crianza, Reserva and others might not always appear on the front or back label, may also appeared on a neck in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
