Rioja Flashcards
(24 cards)
Name the autonomías of Spain that make up North-Central wine producing area.
Navarro
La Rioja
Aragón
What mountain ranges provide the rain shadow for North-Central Spain wine producing region?
The Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast and the Canatbrian Mountains to the northwest.
What is considered to be Spain’s prmier red wine region?
Rioja DOCa
What is the main red grape of Rioja DOCa?
Tempranillo
What are some traditional blending partners of Tempranillo in Rioja?
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
Maturana Tinta
What grapes must make up 85% of a red wine in Rioja?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
Maturana Tinta
What is the dominant white grape used in Rioja wines?
Viura (Macabéo)
What are some other prominent white grapes used in Rioja to make wine?
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasía Riojano
Maturana Blanca
What other white grapes may be used in Rioja but cannot account for more than a combined 49% of the blend?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Verdejo
What are the aging requirements for a Crianza red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Crianza wines of Spain?
A Crianza red wine in Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years including 1 year in cask.
A general crianza red wine of Spain must be aged for at least 2 years with 6 months in cask.
What are the aging requirements for a Reserva red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Reserva red wines of Spain?
Reserva red wine in Rioja requires at least 3 years of aging including 1 in cask.
There is no aging difference between a reserva red wine from Rioja and the rest of Spain
What are the aging requirements for a Gran Reserva red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Gran Reserva wines of Spain?
A gran reserva red wine of Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
A general gran reserva red wine of Spain must be aged for 5 years including 18 months in oak.
What are the aging requirements for a Crianza white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Crianza wines of Spain?
A Crianza white wine of Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years including 6 months in oak.
A general Crianza white wine of Spain must be aged for 18 months including 6 months in oak
What are the aging requirements for a Reserva white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Reserva wines of Spain?
A Reserva white wine of Rioja must be aged for 2 years including 6 months in oak.
There is no difference in aging requirements of a reserva white wine from Rioja or Spain in general.
What are the aging requirements for a Gran Reserva white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Gran Reserva wines of Spain?
A Gran Reserva white wine of Rioja must be aged for 4 years including 6 months in oak.
There is no difference in aging requirements of a gran reserva white wine from Rioja or Spain in general.
For a white wine in Rioja, the time for the aging requirements for crianza and reserva are the same: 2 years of aging including 6 months in oak.
What, then, is the difference between the two aging designations?
For crianza white wines producers may age the wines in a non-oxidative environement like stainless steel.
Reserva wines must remain in oak or bottle for the minimum period of aging.
What are the 3 subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Baja
What river cuts through Rioja flowing from the northwest to southeast?
The Ebro river
Which subzone of Rioja is the furthest north?
Rioja Alavesa
Which subzone of Rioja produces tempranillo as vino joven that are intended for early consumption?
Rioja Alavesa
Carbonic maceration may be employed for vino joven wines.
Describe the soils types found in the 3 subzones of Rioja.
Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta share a similar soil stucture with a high proportion of calcareous clay.
Rioja Baja, the hottest subregion, contains more alluvial soils and ferrous clay.
How are the grapes from the 3 subregions of Rioja used by producers?
Some traditionalists prefer the tipicity that results from single region and single vineyards bottlings (i.e. Bosconia and Tondonia of López de Heredia)
Other producers source blends from all threee subregions to create a base style, combining the freshness of Rioja Alavesa, the extract and alcoholic warmth of Rioja Baja, and the acidity and structure of Rioja Alta.
Which subregion of Rioja is known for producing the classic ageworthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo, and Graciano blends?
Rioja Alta
What red grape performs best in the hot climate of Rioja Baja?
Garnacha
