Aging

Question 1

Blanco/Rosado Aging Requirements - Rioja

Answer 1

Crianza Blanco/Rosado: min. 18 months, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder may be in bottle, oak or stainless steel)

Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Gran Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 4 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Question 2

Tinto Aging Requirements - Rioja

Answer 2

Crianza Tinto: min. 2 years, including at least 1 year in oak

Reserva Tinto: min. 3 years, including at least 1 year in oak and 6 months in bottle

Gran Reserva Tinto: min. 60 months of aging with at least 24 months in oak and at least 24 months in bottle

Question 3

Cava Aging Requirements

Answer 3

Cava / Cava de Guarda: min. 9 months on the lees from the day of tirage.

Cava de Guarda Superior: min. 18 months on the lees from the day of tirage.

Reserva: 18 months on the lees from the day of tirage. (previously 15 months, prior to the 2021 harvest)

Gran Reserva: min. 30 months on the lees from the day of tirage (Brut, Extra Brut, and Brut Nature only)

Cava de Paraje Calificado (Cava de Paratge Qualificat): min. 36 months on the lees from the day of tirage.

Question 4

Sur Lie Aging Requirements

Answer 4

The rules state that for a wine to be labeled sur lie, it must spend no more than one winter on lees and may not be bottled before March 1 of the year following fermentation, which equates to between 5 and 14 months of aging.

Question 5

Garrafeira - Portugal

Answer 5

“private wine cellar”
indicating a minimum period of aging prior to release

Question 6

Branco and Rosado garrafeira wines - Portugal

Answer 6

must age for a minimum 12 months with at least 6 in bottle.

Question 7

Tinto garrafeira wines - Portugal

Answer 7

wines must age for a minimum 30 months, including at least 12 months in bottle.

Question 8

Colheita Seleccionada - Portugal

Answer 8

indicates a minimum 1% higher alcohol content than that established by the regional appellation.

Question 9

Barolo Aging Requirements

Answer 9

Barolo: 38 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including 18 months in wood.

Barolo Riserva: 62 months from November 1 of the harvest year, including 18 months in wood.

Question 10

Barbaresco Aging Requirements

Answer 10

Barbaresco: Minimum 26 months from November 1 of the harvest year (minimum 9 months in wood), may be released after January 1 of the third year following the harvest

Barbaresco Riserva: Minimum 50 months from November 1 of the harvest year (minimum 9 months in wood), may be released after January 1 of the fifth year following the harvest

Question 11

Brunello di Montalcino Aging Requirements

Answer 11

Brunello: Minimum 2 years in wood plus 4 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 5th year following the harvest

Brunello Riserva: Minimum 2 years in wood plus 6 months in bottle, may not be sold before January 1 of the 6th year following the harvest

Question 12

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Aging Requirements

Answer 12

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Minimum 2 years including at least 6 months in bottle, from January 1 of the year following the harvest

Riserva: Minimum 3 years aging, including at least 6 months in bottle, from January 1 of the year following the harvest

Question 13

Chianti Aging Requirements

Answer 13

Chianti: May not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest

Chianti Superiore: May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest

Chianti Riserva: Minimum 2 years aging from January 1 of the year following harvest

Chianti Riserva
For Colli Fiorentini Riserva and Rufina Riserva, a minimum 6 months of the total aging period must occur in wood

For Colli Senesi Riserva, a minimum 8 months of the total aging must occur in wood and 4 months in bottle

Question 14

Chianti Classico Aging Requirements

Answer 14

Chianti Classico: May not be released until October 1 of the year following the harvest

Riserva: Minimum 24 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including 3 months in the bottle

Gran Selezione: Wines must be produced from estate fruit.
Minimum 30 months aging from January 1 of the year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in the bottle

**(new category was approved in 2014 for wines beginning with the 2010 vintage, though wines from an earlier vintage can apply for this recognition pending they can provide documentation that demonstrates all requirements have been met)

Question 15

Chianti Subzones Aging Requirements

Answer 15

Colli Aretini,
Montalbano,
Colline Pisane
Colli Senesi
may not be released until March 1 of the year following the harvest

Montespertoli
may not be released until June 1 of the year following the harvest

Colli Fiorentini
Rufina
may not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest