La Rioja

Question 1

What is the name of the river that flow through Rioja DOCa?

Answer 1

Ebro River (Río Ebro)

it has several tributaries:

1. Río Oja (where Rioja named after)
2. Río Najerilla
3. Río Iregua
4. Río Leza

Question 2

How many sub-zones are there in Rioja DOCa? And what are them?

Answer 2

3 sub-zones:

1. Rioja Alta (continental)
2. Rioja Alavesa (coolest and wettest)
3. Rioja Oriental (Mediterranean)

Rioja Oriental was renamed in 2018 (used to be Rioja Baja)

Question 3

What is Rioja DOCa?

Answer 3

BLANCO / TINTO / ROSADO, STILL / ESPUMOSO
(3 subzones)

espumoso: Traditional Method
blanco: Viura (Macabeo) dominant, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo
tinto: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan)

Question 4

What kind of oak barrels are used in Rioja DOCa?

Answer 4

mainly American oak barrels giving oak bouquet, coconut

but now other mixture of oaks are being used as well

Question 5

What is Viñedos Singula?

Answer 5

single vineyard

Question 6

What are the aging requirements for Rioja Tinto?

Answer 6

Crianza: min 2 years (min 1 year in oak)

Reserva: min 3 years (min 1 year in oak, 6 months in bottle)

Gran Reserva: min 5 years (min 2 years in oak, 2 years in bottle)

wines must be aged in oak barrels of approximately 225L in size

Question 7

What are the aging requirements for Rioja Blanco/Rosado?

Answer 7

Crianza: min 18 months (min 6 months in oak, remainder may be in bottle, oak, stainless steel)

Reserva: min 2 years (min 6 months in oak, remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Gran Reserva: min 4 years (min 6 months in oak, remainder must be in bottle or oak)

wines must be aged in oak barrels of approximately 225L in size

Question 8

What is Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja?

Answer 8

Sparkling wines

•Traditional Method
•only hand harvest
•entire process of primary fermentation to labelling post disgorgement before release must take place in same location (wine may not be relocated or transported at any time)
•no additions, colouring or filtration
•Transfer Method is allowed for bottle sizes smaller than 750ml and larger than 3L

Question 9

What is vintage sparkling wine called in Rioja?

Answer 9

Espumoso de Calidad Gran Añada

min 36 months on lees

100% from stated vintage, must state vintage on labelled

Question 10

What are the aging requirement for Rioja Espumoso wines?

Answer 10

Espumoso Calidad: min 15 months on lees

Espumoso Calidad Reserva: min 24 months on lees

Espumoso Calidad Gran Añada: min 36 months on lees

Question 11

When did Rioja got their DOCa status?

Answer 11

1991

first region to acquired DOCa

Question 12

what is Joven called in Rioja?

Answer 12

Genérico

Question 13

What is the general climate of La Rioja?

Answer 13

Continental climate

Question 14

What mountain range creates a rain shadow in La Rioja?

Answer 14

Cantabrian Mountains

Question 15

What mountain range divides Spain from France?

Answer 15

Pyrenées

Question 16

What are the 3 main soil types found in La Rioja?

Answer 16

1. Calcareous clay
2. Ferrous clay
3. Alluvial

Question 17

What winemaking technique is common on Joven styles of Rioja?

Answer 17

Carbonic Maceration

Question 18

Name 5 important producers in La Rioja.

Answer 18

1. Marqués de Riscal
2. Marqués de Cáceres
3. Finca Allende
4. Bodegas López de Heredia
5. La Rioja Alta