Rioja Flashcards
(265 cards)
1
Q
What is the meaning of “Vino de Zona” in Rioja?
A
A singular “area” designation; grapes come from a specific zone like Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, or Rioja Oriental.
Grapes must come exclusively from the zone (but 15% from neighboring zones may be allowed with 10 year history working with the vineyard)
Vinification, aging, and bottling must occur within the zone
2
Q
What is the grape sourcing allowance for Vino de Zona?
A
Up to 15% of grapes may come from outside the zone.
3
Q
What must appear on the label for Vino de Zona wines?
A
The name of the zone must be specified on the label.
4
Q
What does “Vino de Pueblo” indicate in Rioja classification?
A
A singular “municipality” or village designation; a more specific origin than Vino de Zona.
5
Q
What is the grape sourcing allowance for Vino de Pueblo?
A
Up to 15% of grapes may come from outside the municipality.
6
Q
What is the minimum vine age for Vino de Pueblo wines?
A
10 years old.
7
Q
How must Vino de Pueblo wines be labeled?
A
With “Viñedo en…” followed by the name of the municipality.
8
Q
What is “Viñedo Singular” in Rioja?
A
A single vineyard designation; the most specific origin classification in Rioja.
9
Q
What is the grape sourcing allowance for Viñedo Singular?
A
0% – all grapes must come from the specified vineyard.
10
Q
What is the minimum vine age required for Viñedo Singular wines?
A
35 years old.
11
Q
What are two additional requirements for Viñedo Singular wines?
A
Limited yields and restricted pressing regulations.
12
Q
What must appear on the label of a Viñedo Singular wine?
A
The name of the vineyard must be specified.
13
Q
What year did phylloxera first arrive in Rioja?
A
1899 in a vineyard in sajazarra
14
Q
Who were likely the first to establish viticulture in Rioja?
A
The Celtiberians (Celtic tribes in Iberia).
15
Q
How did the Romans influence Rioja?
A
They brought viticultural knowledge and improved local winemaking.
16
Q
What is one theory on how Bordeaux was planted?
A
It may have been planted using vine cuttings from Rioja.
17
Q
When did the name Rioja first appear?
A
In 1092.
18
Q
What are some theories about the origin of the name Rioja?
A
From the Río Oja river, or Basque words ‘erriotxa’ (land of bread) or ‘arrioxa’ (land of rocks).
19
Q
What wines were preferred in Rioja during the early second millennium?
A
White wines were more widely grown and prized.
20
Q
When was the Real Sociedad Económica de Cosecheros de Rioja founded?
A
1787
21
Q
What French wine disasters catalyzed Rioja’s growth?
A
Oidium and phylloxera.
22
Q
When did Rioja complete its railway?
A
1880
23
Q
What area in Haro became a winemaking hub due to the railway?
A
Barrio de la Estación.
24
Q
What major wine research facility was founded in Haro?
A
Estación Enológica in 1888.
25
When did Haro become the second electrified city in Spain?
1890
26
When did phylloxera hit Rioja?
1899
27
What practice was adopted to prevent fraud in Rioja wine bottles?
Wire cages (mallas) were applied.
28
When was Rioja’s first consejo regulador established?
1925
29
Why did Rioja regain popularity in the 1950s and 1960s?
French wines became expensive, and Rioja wines were ready to drink upon release.
30
Who influenced new oak use in Rioja in the 1960s?
Émile Peynaud, hired by Enrique Forner.
31
Who created Cosme Palacio y Hermanos Reserva Especial in 1987?
Michel Rolland.
32
When did Rioja become Spain's first DOCa?
1991
33
Which four autonomous communities does Rioja DOCa span?
La Rioja, Basque Country, Navarra, and Castilla y León.
34
What natural feature protects Rioja from Atlantic winds?
The Sierra de Cantabria range.
35
How is Rioja climatically divided?
Atlantic vintages are cooler and wetter; Mediterranean are warmer and drier.
36
What are the three subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental.
37
Which is the largest subzone in Rioja by area planted?
Rioja Alta.
38
What cities are major hubs in Rioja Alta?
Haro and Logroño.
39
What soils dominate the Oja Valley in Rioja Alta?
Chalky, alluvial soils.
40
What soil type is found in Najerilla Valley?
Iron-rich clay.
41
What subzone surrounds San Vicente and is entirely in Basque Country?
Rioja Alavesa.
42
What subzone has Rioja’s highest elevation vineyards?
Rioja Alavesa.
43
What is Rioja Oriental known for?
Warmer, drier climate and Garnacha production.
44
What mountain range affects Rioja Oriental?
The Yerga Mountains.
45
What is the most planted red grape in Rioja?
Tempranillo.
46
What grape was more widely planted than Tempranillo in 1973?
Garnacha.
47
What does Garnacha add to Rioja blends?
Alcohol, body, and fruitiness.
48
What grape provides acidity, tannin, and exotic spice in Rioja?
Graciano.
49
What is Mazuelo known as elsewhere?
Cariñena.
50
What traditional method wine category was created in Rioja in 2017?
Vino Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja.
51
How long must Rioja sparkling wines age sur lie for Crianza?
15 months.
52
What is the primary white grape of Rioja?
Viura (Macabeo).
53
What grape is often blended with Viura for white Rioja?
Malvasía.
54
What other white grapes are allowed in Rioja?
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Garnacha Blanca, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Turruntés.
55
What size must Rioja barrels be?
Approximately 225 liters (same as Bordeaux barriques).
56
What aging classification terms might be avoided by modern Rioja producers?
Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva.
57
What are traditional Rioja winemaking techniques?
Blending from multiple subzones, long aging in American oak, semi-oxidative maturation.
58
What are modern Rioja winemaking techniques?
Single-varietal wines, single-vineyard, cold soaking, stainless steel fermentation, shorter aging in European oak.
59
When did Rioja allow village names on labels?
2017
60
What are requirements for Viñedo Singular wines?
35+ year-old vines, hand-harvested, low yields, tasting panel approval.
61
What subregion is Bodegas López de Heredia located in?
Rioja Alta.
62
Where is Bodegas López de Heredia located specifically?
Haro.
63
When was Bodegas López de Heredia established?
1877
64
Who founded Bodegas López de Heredia?
Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta.
65
What was the inspiration for López de Heredia’s winemaking style?
French négociants who came to Rioja during the phylloxera crisis in France.
66
How many generations of the López de Heredia family have run the winery?
Four generations.
67
What type of oak does López de Heredia use for aging?
American oak only—no new oak is used.
68
How does López de Heredia’s barrel aging compare to Rioja’s minimum aging requirements?
Their wines typically exceed the required aging times.
69
What is the most traditional producer in Rioja known for extended aging?
Bodegas López de Heredia.
70
What are the two most iconic vineyards owned by López de Heredia?
Viña Tondonia and Viña Bosconia.
71
What is the size of Viña Tondonia and what varieties are grown there?
100 ha; Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano, Viura, and Malvasía.
72
What are the soils of Viña Tondonia like?
Clay and alluvial with high limestone content.
73
What is grown in Viña Bosconia?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo on clay and limestone soils.
74
What is Viña Cubillas used for?
Producing Viña Cubillo wines.
75
What white wine is produced from Viña Zaconia?
Viña Gravonia.
76
What variety is planted in Viña Zaconia?
Viura on stony soils.
77
What is the blend of Viña Tondonia Red Reserva and Gran Reserva?
75% Tempranillo, plus Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.
78
What year was the inaugural vintage of Viña Tondonia red and white wines?
1890
79
What is the blend for Viña Tondonia White Reserva and Gran Reserva?
Viura and Malvasía.
80
What grapes are in the Viña Tondonia Rosé Gran Reserva?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Viura.
81
How old are most vines in López de Heredia’s vineyards?
More than 40 years old.
82
What is notable about López de Heredia’s production process?
All stages of production are done meticulously, including an on-site cooperage.
83
How long do the top red and white wines at López de Heredia age in barrel?
Often around a decade in American oak.
84
Where do the wines rest after barrel aging at López de Heredia?
They rest in bottle for additional years before release.
85
Who imports López de Heredia wines in the U.S.?
The Rare Wine Co.
86
What subregion is La Rioja Alta, S.A. located in?
Rioja Alta.
87
Where is La Rioja Alta, S.A. specifically located?
Haro.
88
When was La Rioja Alta, S.A. established?
1890
89
Who founded La Rioja Alta, S.A.?
Five Spanish growers from Basque Country and Rioja.
90
What market opportunity contributed to the founding of La Rioja Alta?
Phylloxera in France created demand for high-quality wines.
91
What merger did La Rioja Alta undergo in 1904?
They merged with the Ardanza winery.
92
What wine commemorates the 1904 merger with Ardanza?
Gran Reserva 904.
93
What percentage of La Rioja Alta’s production is Reserva or Gran Reserva?
About 80%.
94
How many hectares of vineyard does La Rioja Alta own?
300 ha.
95
What wine commemorates La Rioja Alta’s founding winemaker and the first vintage?
Gran Reserva 890.
96
What is the blend for Gran Reserva 890?
Primarily Tempranillo with some Graciano and Mazuelo.
97
How is Gran Reserva 890 aged?
In new and 3-year-old American oak barrels, racked multiple times before bottling.
98
What is the blend for Gran Reserva 904?
Primarily Tempranillo with a small amount of Graciano.
99
How long is Gran Reserva 904 aged?
Approximately four years in used American oak, with multiple rackings.
100
What is the blend for Viña Ardanza?
70–80% Tempranillo, the rest Garnacha.
101
Where does the Garnacha in Viña Ardanza come from?
Old vines in the warmer Rioja Oriental region.
102
How are the grape varieties treated in Viña Ardanza?
They are aged separately before blending.
103
How long is Viña Ardanza aged before bottling?
About three years in used American oak barrels.
104
What type of oak does La Rioja Alta use?
American oak exclusively.
105
What winemaking practices are common at La Rioja Alta?
Fruit is destemmed, extended maceration is practiced, and wines are aged in American oak.
106
What facility does La Rioja Alta have on-site to support barrel aging?
They have their own cooperage.
107
How does La Rioja Alta treat its Crianza wines?
Even Crianza wines are aged beyond the legal minimums and may qualify as Reserva.
108
What is the importer of La Rioja Alta wines in the U.S.?
Skurnik Wines.
109
What subregion is Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta located in?
Rioja Alta.
110
Where is Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta specifically located?
Logroño.
111
When was Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta established?
1852
112
Who founded Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta?
Luciano de Murrieta.
113
Where did Luciano de Murrieta study winemaking?
In Bordeaux.
114
What led Luciano de Murrieta to flee Spain and end up in London?
He was exiled with General Baldomero Espartero after political upheaval.
115
Who provided grapes and a cellar for Murrieta’s first wine production?
General Espartero, who was living in Rioja.
116
What year did Murrieta produce his first Rioja wine?
1852
117
When did Murrieta acquire his own estate and vineyards?
1872
118
What is the name and size of Marqués de Murrieta’s estate?
Ygay estate; 300 hectares.
119
Who took over Marqués de Murrieta after Murrieta died in 1911?
His nephew.
120
Who purchased the estate in 1983?
Vicente Cebrián-Sagarriga.
121
Who owns Marqués de Murrieta today?
The Cebrián-Sagarriga family.
122
What is the flagship wine of Marqués de Murrieta?
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial.
123
What is the blend of Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial?
85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo.
124
Where do the grapes for Castillo Ygay come from?
La Plana vineyard, planted in 1950.
125
How is Castillo Ygay vinified and aged?
Fermented separately in stainless steel; Tempranillo aged in American oak, Mazuelo in French barrique for 28 months, then blended and aged ~3 more years in bottle.
126
What is the white flagship of Marqués de Murrieta?
Capellanía Reserva.
127
What is the varietal and vineyard source for Capellanía Reserva?
100% Viura from Capellanía vineyard, planted in 1945.
128
How is Capellanía Reserva vinified and aged?
Brief skin contact, fermented and aged in new French barrique ~1.5 years, then ~1 year in bottle.
129
What grape varieties does Marqués de Murrieta primarily use?
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha, and Graciano.
130
What types of oak are used by Marqués de Murrieta?
Both American oak and French barrique.
131
What is the name of Murrieta’s modern-style wine?
Dalmau.
132
What is the blend and style of Dalmau?
Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon, made with extraction and aged in new French barrique.
133
Who is the U.S. importer for Marqués de Murrieta?
Maisons Marques & Domaines.
134
What subregion is Bodegas Remelluri located in?
Rioja Alavesa.
135
Where is Bodegas Remelluri specifically located?
Labastida.
136
When was Bodegas Remelluri established?
1967
137
Who founded Bodegas Remelluri?
Jaime Rodríguez Salís.
138
What historical structure once existed on the site of Remelluri's vineyards?
A sanctuary and farm run by monks from the Toloño monastery in the 14th century.
139
What happened to the land after the monks left the Remelluri site?
It was maintained by a local organization, then divided and sold.
140
What was Jaime Rodríguez Salís’s goal in founding Remelluri?
To restore the vineyards on the Sierra de Toloño slopes to their original condition.
141
Who took over Remelluri in 2009?
Telmo Rodríguez and Amaia Rodríguez Hernandorena.
142
What are the roles of Telmo and Amaia Rodríguez at Remelluri?
Telmo is the winemaker, Amaia is the viticulturist.
143
How large are the vineyard holdings of Bodegas Remelluri?
154 hectares.
144
What is the flagship wine of Remelluri?
La Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva.
145
What is the grape composition of La Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva?
Primarily Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano, Moscatel, Viura, and Malvasía.
146
How old are the vines used in La Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva?
Between 50 and 100 years old.
147
How are grapes harvested at Remelluri?
They are hand-harvested.
148
How are grapes fermented at Remelluri?
In a combination of stainless steel and neutral wooden vats.
149
What types of oak are used for aging at Remelluri?
Both French and American oak.
150
When is La Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva produced?
Only in exceptional vintages.
151
What was Remelluri the first estate in Rioja to do?
Release 100% estate-bottled wines.
152
What varieties does Remelluri focus on?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, and Viura.
153
What farming methods are used in the vineyards at Remelluri?
Biodynamic practices.
154
What kind of yeasts are used at Remelluri for fermentation?
Natural yeasts.
155
Who imports Bodegas Remelluri wines in the U.S.?
De Maison Selections.
156
What subregion is Bodegas Muga located in?
Rioja Alta.
157
Where is Bodegas Muga specifically located?
Haro.
158
When was Bodegas Muga established?
1932
159
Who founded Bodegas Muga?
Isaac Muga Martinez and Aurora Cano.
160
What happened after Isaac Muga passed away in 1969?
His wife and three children continued running the winery.
161
How large are Bodegas Muga's vineyard holdings?
250 hectares.
162
What facility does Bodegas Muga have on-site to support their oak aging program?
Their own cooperage.
163
What is the blend and style of Prado Enea?
80% Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano; aged 3 years in vats and 3 in bottle, filtered with egg whites.
164
What soils are Prado Enea’s grapes grown on?
Chalky clay and alluvial soils.
165
What year was the inaugural vintage of Prado Enea?
1968
166
What is the blend for Torre Muga?
75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, and 10% Graciano.
167
How is Torre Muga aged?
6 months in large vats, 18 months in new barrique, and 1 year in bottle.
168
What is the blend of Aro?
70% Tempranillo and 30% from the estate's oldest vines.
169
How is Aro aged?
18 months in new French oak barrique.
170
What grape varieties does Bodegas Muga focus on?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, Viura, and Malvasía.
171
How are all Bodegas Muga wines fermented and aged?
In oak—either vats or barrels—supplied by their own cooperage.
172
What types of oak are used at Bodegas Muga?
Both French and American oak.
173
How would you describe the aging style of Bodegas Muga's top wines?
Extensive aging in oak followed by bottle aging.
174
Who imports Bodegas Muga wines in the U.S.?
Giuliana Imports.
175
What subregion is Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza located in?
Rioja Alavesa.
176
Where is Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza specifically located?
Samaniego.
177
When was Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza established?
1989
178
Who founded Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza?
Fernando Remírez de Ganuza.
179
What did Fernando Remírez de Ganuza do before founding his winery?
He worked for over 20 years as a vineyard broker in Rioja Alavesa.
180
How large are the vineyard holdings of Remírez de Ganuza?
80 hectares.
181
What is the grape composition and size of El Sotillo vineyard?
11 ha; 80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Garnacha, 5% Viura; 33-year-old vines.
182
What unique vineyard practice is being tested in El Sotillo?
Cepillado de las cepas—removal of dried bark to reduce pesticide use.
183
What is planted in San Miguel vineyard?
100% Tempranillo from 45-year-old vines.
184
What is the blend and age of Lagillos vineyard?
75% Tempranillo, 10% Malvasía, 10% Graciano, 5% Garnacha; 72-year-old vines.
185
What is the oldest vineyard at Remírez de Ganuza?
Ermita y Cofrade, planted with 98-year-old vines.
186
What is the blend in Ermita y Cofrade vineyard?
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Viura/Malvasía.
187
What are the soils like in Ermita y Cofrade?
Chalky with large stones.
188
What is the average annual production at Remírez de Ganuza?
16,700 cases.
189
What is the blend in Trasnocho?
Primarily Tempranillo, with Graciano, Viura, and Malvasía.
190
What winemaking method is used in Trasnocho?
Water bag press method to extract 70% free-run juice without oxidation.
191
What is the blend of the Remírez de Ganuza flagship wine?
Primarily Tempranillo, with Graciano, Viura, and Malvasía.
192
What is special about grape selection for Remírez de Ganuza wines?
Only the shoulders of the best bunches are used for top wines.
193
How are grapes handled at Remírez de Ganuza?
Hand-sorted and destemmed prior to fermentation in new oak barrels.
194
How long is the flagship wine aged?
Over three years in new French barrique.
195
Where does fermentation and aging take place at Remírez de Ganuza?
All in new oak barrels.
196
What is the ratio of oak used for aging at Remírez de Ganuza?
80% French and 20% American.
197
What innovative technique did Remírez de Ganuza pioneer in grape sorting?
Separating the shoulders and tips of grape bunches for different wines.
198
What technique is used for the tips of grape bunches at Remírez de Ganuza?
Carbonic maceration for younger wines.
199
Who imports Remírez de Ganuza wines in the U.S.?
United Cellars (Florida), Old World Wine Co. (Colorado).
200
What subregion is Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi located in?
Rioja Alavesa.
201
Where is Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi specifically located?
Laguardia.
202
When was Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi established?
1985
203
Who founded Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi?
Juan Carlos López de Lacalle.
204
What inspired Juan Carlos López de Lacalle to found Artadi?
His experience harvesting with his grandfather and commitment to organic, sustainable viticulture.
205
What four projects are part of the Artadi group?
The original winery in Laguardia, Artazu in Navarra, El Sequé in Alicante, and Viña El Pisón in Laguardia.
206
When did Artadi leave the Rioja DOCa?
2015
207
Why did Artadi leave the Rioja DOCa?
They believed the “Rioja” label no longer had value and preferred to emphasize precise origin.
208
Did Artadi change its winemaking after leaving the DOCa?
No, their winemaking practices remained unchanged.
209
How large are Artadi’s vineyard holdings?
280 hectares.
210
What is the average elevation of Artadi’s vineyards?
500 meters.
211
What is Artadi’s farming method?
Dry-farmed, organic and sustainable viticulture.
212
How old are the vines used by Artadi?
More than 35 years on average.
213
How are grapes harvested and sorted at Artadi?
Manually harvested and hand-sorted.
214
What is unique about Artadi’s bottling process?
Gravity is used; wines are unfiltered.
215
What is the blend and vineyard source of Artadi La Poza de Ballesteros?
100% Tempranillo from La Poza; soils are clay-limestone and limestone.
216
What is the blend and soil type of Artadi Valdeginés?
100% Tempranillo; soils are lightly compacted clay-limestone with soft sandstone.
217
What is the blend and soil type of Artadi El Carretil?
100% Tempranillo; soils are clay-limestone over sandstone rock.
218
What is Artadi Pagos Viejos made from?
100% Tempranillo from old vines across the estate’s top vineyards.
219
What is the blend and style of Artadi Grandes Añadas?
100% Tempranillo from select parcels of Pagos Viejos; aged in new French barrique.
220
When was the first vintage of Artadi Grandes Añadas?
1994
221
Who imports Artadi wines in the U.S.?
Skurnik Wines.
222
What river is Rioja named after?
The río Oja, a tributary of the Ebro.
223
Which three autonomous regions does Rioja DOCa span?
La Rioja, Basque Country, and Navarra.
224
What are the three geographic subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental.
225
What city serves as a central hub of the Rioja region?
Logroño.
226
What town is a major winemaking center in Rioja Alta?
Haro.
227
What town is central to Rioja Alavesa?
Laguardia.
228
What towns are key in Rioja Oriental?
Calahorra and Alfaro.
229
How many hectares of vines were planted in Rioja in 2021?
65,700 ha (162,348 acres).
230
When did Rioja's wine trade start expanding beyond the region?
In the 1700s, as communications improved and Bilbao became a trading hub.
231
Who founded Rioja’s first commercial bodega?
Luciano de Murrieta in 1850.
232
What significant wine-related infrastructure was completed in Haro in 1863?
The Tudela–Bilbao railway line.
233
When did phylloxera reach Rioja?
1901
234
When was Rioja’s first consejo regulador created?
1926
235
What caused Rioja's revival in the 1960s and 70s?
Growing foreign markets and a new motorway between Logroño and Bilbao.
236
What region began challenging Rioja’s dominance in the 1990s?
Ribera del Duero.
237
What producer left the Rioja DOCa in 2015 citing a lack of terroir focus?
Artadi.
238
What mountain range shelters Rioja from Atlantic winds?
The Sierra de Cantabria.
239
What is the general climate difference between Rioja Alta/Alavesa and Rioja Oriental?
Alta/Alavesa are cooler and wetter; Oriental is warmer and drier.
240
What type of soils are common in Rioja Alta and Alavesa?
Clay-limestone soils.
241
What type of soils dominate Rioja Oriental?
Fertile alluvial soils of silt.
242
What are the elevation extremes in Rioja's vineyards?
From 300 m at Alfaro to 800 m on the Sierra de Cantabria slopes.
243
What year did Rioja introduce new terroir-focused classifications?
2017
244
What does Vino de Zona mean?
Wines with at least 85% of fruit from one of Rioja’s three zones.
245
What does Vino de Municipio mean?
Wines with at least 85% of grapes from a single village and vinified there.
246
What is Viñedo Singular?
A single-vineyard wine from vines at least 35 years old with low yields.
247
How many grape varieties are permitted in Rioja as of 2009?
14 total (5 red, 9 white).
248
What is the most planted grape in Rioja?
Tempranillo.
249
What red grape is making a comeback for varietal wines?
Graciano.
250
What percentage of red grapes did Garnacha account for in 2021?
7.5%.
251
What red grape was added in 2009 but later misidentified in some vineyards?
Maturana Tinta.
252
What is the true identity of the preferred version of Maturana Tinta in Navarrete?
Castets.
253
What is Viura also known as elsewhere in Spain?
Macabeo.
254
Which white grapes were added to Rioja’s list of authorized varieties in 2009?
Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés.
255
What training system replaced bush vines in many Rioja vineyards post-1970s?
Wire-trained vines.
256
What are the official DOP yield limits for Rioja?
63 hl/ha for whites, 45 hl/ha for reds.
257
What winemaking technique defines Rioja more than fermentation method?
Barrel aging.
258
What size barrels are traditionally used in Rioja?
225-liter barricas (bordelesas).
259
What type of oak is traditionally associated with Rioja?
American oak.
260
How long must a red Rioja Crianza age in oak?
At least 1 year.
261
How long must a red Rioja Reserva age?
At least 1 year in oak and 2 years total.
262
How long must a red Rioja Gran Reserva age?
At least 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle.
263
When was Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja introduced?
2017
264
What are the minimum aging requirements for Rioja sparkling wines?
15 months for Crianza, 24 months for Reserva, 36 months for Gran Añada.
265
What traditional white Rioja producers have maintained oak aging?
López de Heredia and Marqués de Murrieta.
