20.3 Spain - Rioja

Question 1

What is the name of the river that flows through Rioja?

Answer 1

River Ebro

Question 2

What is the mountain range to the north of Rioja that protects it from the Atlantic?

Answer 2

Sierre de Cantabria

Question 3

What is the name of the mountain sub-range to the south of Rioja that shelters it from the warmer centre of the country?

Answer 3

Seirra de la Demanda

Question 4

Why does Rioja gain some Mediterranean influence on its eastern side?

Answer 4

The Ebro is at its widest in the south-east as it flows from the north-west

Question 5

What are the three zones of Rioja?

Answer 5

1) Rioja Alta
2) Rioja Alavesa
3) Rioja Oriental

Question 6

What is the largest zone of Rioja?

Answer 6

Rioja Alta

Question 7

What is the climate of Rioja Alta?

Answer 7

Generally continental with some maritime influences

Question 8

What is the predominant soil type of Rioja?

Answer 8

Calcareous clay

Question 9

What is the smallest Rioja zone?

Answer 9

Rioja Alavesa

Question 10

What is the climate of Rioja Alavesa?

Answer 10

Cool and wet (similar to the north west of Alta)

Question 11

Despite being further south than the other two zones, why can Rioja Oriental be just as cool?

Answer 11

Its vineyards are planted at altitudes up to 1,000m

Question 12

Which zone and part of Rioja is most susceptible to drought and the increasing threat from climate change?

Answer 12

The low altitude areas of Rioja Oriental

Question 13

What are the six black varieties permitted in Rioja?

Answer 13

1) Tempranillo
2) Garnacha
3) Graciano
4) Mazuelo/Carinena
5) Maturana Tinta/Trousseau
6) Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 14

Why have Tempranillo plantings drastically increased in the last 50 years?

Answer 14

Due to its ability to produce larger yields, especially since the legalisation of irrigation, which made Garnacha’s drought tolerance less important.

Question 15

In which zone is Garnacha best suited and is being replanted?

Answer 15

Rioja Oriental

Question 16

What are two characteristics of Graciano in the vineyard?

Answer 16

1) Late ripening
2) Drought tolerant

Question 17

What does Graciano contribute to a Rioja blend? (3)

Answer 17

High acidity
Tannin
Fresh black fruit

Question 18

What six white grape varieties are planted in Rioja?

Answer 18

1) Viura/Macabeo
2) Tempranillo Blanco
3) Malvasia
4) Garnacha Blanca
5) Verdejo
6) Sauvignon Blanc

Question 19

When does Viura bud and ripen?

Answer 19

Late

Question 20

What is Viura susceptible to?

Answer 20

Botrytis

Question 21

What wine style does Tempranillo Blanco produce?

Answer 21

High acid wines with flavours of lemon, grapefruit and pineapple

Question 22

How are Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca typically used?

Answer 22

As blending components to add greater diversity of flavours generally in oak-matured mid-priced to premium wines

Question 23

How are Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc typically used?

Answer 23

Either as varietal wines or in inexpensive unoaked blends

Question 24

What is a criticism of the Rioja Consejo’s regulatory focus on ageing only?

Answer 24

Only maturation time and type is stipulated whereas practices in the vineyard and winery that may be conducive to quality are not meaning there can be vast differences in style, quality and price within each age category.

Question 25

What was/is the vinos de autor movement?

Answer 25

Beginning in the 1990s, some producers launched premium wines without ageing categories instead focusing on ripeness, concentration and structure using French oak instead of the more common American oak of the region.

Question 26

Why is blending parcels of grapes from various parts of the DOCa a common, longstanding feature of Rioja?

Answer 26

The region has many small growers, relatively few wineries, and a large number of co-ops.

Question 27

What might be a common Rioja blend? Hint: varieties and sub-regions

Answer 27

1) Tempranillo - Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavese
2) Garnacha - Rioja Oriental

Question 28

Name a winery and its high quality oxidative white Rioja

Answer 28

Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva by Lopez de Heredia

Question 29

Rioja rose tends to be made from which two varieties?

Answer 29

Tempranillo and Garnacha

Question 30

Viura is the main grape variety for most white Rioja. How do winemakers achieve greater complexity in more premium examples? (3)

Answer 30

1) Lower yielding vines
2) Oak maturation
3) Blending with Garnacha Blanc, Malvasia, Verdejo

Question 31

What is the traditional way of making Rose in Rioja i.e. Lopez de Heredia?

Answer 31

Black and white grapes are macerated separately, pressed and then fermented together before being matured in oak

Question 32

What are the three new labelling terms permitted in Rioja since 2018? What is their purpose

Answer 32

1) Vino de Zona
2) Vino de Municipio
3) Vinedo Singular
4) To introduce quality regulations based on vineyard sites separate to the ageing classifications

Question 33

Rioja legislation specifies that the oak vessels must be of what maximum capacity?

Answer 33

225 L (barriques)

Question 34

Rioja legislation specifies that minimum ageing term for red Crianza is how long?

Answer 34

1) 12 months in barrel
2) 24 months total (from 1 October year of harvest)

Question 35

Rioja legislation specifies that minimum ageing term for red Reserva is how long? (3)

Answer 35

1) 12 months in barrel
2) 6 months in bottle
3) 36 months total

Question 36

Rioja legislation specifies that minimum ageing term for Rose and white Crianza and Reserva is how long?

Answer 36

1) 6 months in barrel
2) 24 months total

Question 37

Rioja legislation specifies that minimum ageing term for red Gran Reserva is how long? (3)

Answer 37

1) 24 months in barrel
2) 24 months in bottle
3) 60 months total

Question 38

Rioja legislation specifies that minimum ageing term for white and rose Gran Reserva is how long?

Answer 38

1) 6 months in barrel
2) 48 months total

Question 39

What is the most popular age category of Rioja domestically?

Answer 39

Crianza

Question 40

Why is the average price of Rioja well below that of the prestigious regions of France and Italy?

Answer 40

Relatively cheap vineyard land and cheap prices for grapes grown in the warmer, flatter areas

Question 41

Why do more than 40% of grape growers sell to co-ops?

Answer 41

Over 50% of the vineyard area consists of small plots