This is a region that needs no introduction been the most famous region for wines in Spain, I came to know the wines here quite early in life, That first sip of wine came from Marqués de Riscal . It was, also, my first bottle of wine I purchased; many many years ago. When I started coming to this region with the family several years back, and even before from the Americas seeking their bottles. Therefore, let me tell you about the wines of La Rioja !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
My first ever taste of wine was by my maternal grandmother at my tender age of 8, and of course , it was Spanish wine from Tenerife. Ever since, my love for the drink has increase exponentially to the point of taken professional courses from the ICEX commercial office of Spain, and SOPEXA Food and Wine from France government entities over the years. I have tasted wines from many countries and even visit many wineries. Memories forever !
My favorite story here and the reason drank a lot of Riojas over the years was that a certain Guillermo Hurtado de Amézaga inherited vineyards and old wineries from his sister in Elciego in 1858, founding in 1860 together with his son Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga the Marqués de Riscal winery, considered the oldest modern winery in La Rioja. He conceived the winery in the style of the French Château, bringing in 1868 the first vines of French origin that were grown in Spain and the best French techniques from the hand of Jean Pineau.
The Rioja is Spain in a class of red wine. The wine is known for its structure and tannins, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon , but it also has a fruity characteristic. This is a wine perfect for a drinker who loves Cabernet but is also looking for the dominant cherry flavor that’s often present in a wine like Pinot Noir. Rioja is made from a blend of grape varieties, with Tempranillo the dominant grape (Garnacha is typically included in the blend to add some fruitiness. Mazuelo and Graciano may also be included). Spain is very proud of its indigenous Tempranillo grape because they have been making it into wine for over 2,000 years. When choosing to buy a Rioja, the most important thing to know is that the wine separates into four levels of classification, which depends on the amount of time the wine spends in oak. The classification of each Rioja will be labeled clearly on the bottle.
Rioja: This is the basic form of the wine. It has been aged for only a short amount of time in oak, potentially only a few months, and then the wine is bottled and sold. It is in this wine where the juice will taste the “ripest” because the wine is very young. Therefore, sometimes is sold as Joven or young on the label. Crianza: For a wine to be labeled a Crianza, it must spend a minimum of 1 year in oak. Following its removal from oak, the wine must spend at least another few months in the bottle, before being sold. This is the level of Rioja that is most affordable.Reserva: This is a Rioja made from the best grapes of the harvest, and is only made during years that were considered to have a good growing season. A Reserva must be aged a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year being in oak, and the rest in the bottle.Gran Reserva: This is a Rioja that is only allowed to be made in years with exceptional growing seasons from the most exceptional grapes harvested. Gran Reserva’s must be aged in oak for at least 2 years, and then must spend at least 3 more years in the bottle.
Rioja wines are aged in 225-liters oak casks, with periodic racking, followed by a further period of bottle ageing. There are about 567 ageing bodegas in Rioja. The Rioja wine region is located in northern Spain, on both sides of the River Ebro. The local terrain perfectly delimits the region and sets it apart from surrounding territories. From an administrative point of view, however, its 63,593 hectares of vineyards are divided between three provinces on the Upper Ebro – La Rioja (Rioja Alta) (43,885 ha), Alava (Alavesa) (12,934 ha) and Navarra ( Rioja Baja) (6,774 ha). The grape varieties that are currently authorised by the Regulations of the D. O. Ca. Rioja are: RED: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, and Maturana Tinta.WHITE: Viura, Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo.
Many wineries and memories forever, some of these are/were : Ramon Bilbao , Marqués de Riscal ,Bodegas Palacio, Unión Vitivinícola, S.A. better known as Marqués de Caceres , Montecillo, S.A. part of the group Osborne , Bodegas Lan, CVNE is Compañia Viñicola del Norte de España, and one good one in the group is Viña Real, Bodegas Bilbaínas, S.A. part of group Codorniu, Bodegas Muga , Bodega Lopez de Heredia, Bodega Rioja Alta , Bodegas Berceo, S.A. part of Group Gurpegui , Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta , Campo Viejo, S.A. part of Pernod Ricard group , Bodegas Baron de Ley , Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga S.A. part of Manzano Entreprises group ,Bodegas Paternina of Haro founded in Ollauri by Federico Paternina in 1896, and Bodegas Beronia.
Rioja wines are protected by the oldest Designation of Origin in Spain, officially recognised in 1926. In 1991, it was awarded the highest category -Calificada- making Rioja the first designation in Spain to be so honored.(now there are two ),
The official La Rioja denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOC): https://riojawine.com/en/
The local newspaper La Rioja full of wine info in Spanish but to know all that is there, The official La Rioja newspaper: https://www.larioja.com/lomejordelvinoderioja/
Apolo y Baco is a site, that I have helped input info when it began many years ago, now much better. In Spanish, but you have all info here even contact information for all Bodegas in Spain. The official Apolo y Baco on the La Rioja wines : https://apoloybaco.com/vinos/denominaciones-de-origen-en-rioja/
There you go folks, hoping you get a taste of La Rioja wines at least in your next visit to Spain. They are available the world over by now. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the wines of La Rioja !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 