La Rioja Flashcards

1
Q

True or False
Rioja’s “Trustseal” is the first of its kind in the wine world

A

True

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2
Q

Name the two men who brought wine knowledge and technology back to Rioja in the 19th century

A
  1. Marques de Murrieta
  2. Marques de Riscal
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3
Q

Who introducted winemaking in La Rioja?

A

Phonenicians

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4
Q

List requirements (6) for Vinedos Singulares

A
  • Min 10 year contract reuired if grapes are purchased
  • Vines must be well balanced with limited vigor
  • Yields must be at least 20% lower than those required by the Consejo Regulador
  • Grapes must be hand-harvested
  • Production figures must be transparent and traceable
  • Wines must undergo quality assessments
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5
Q

What year Rioja was officially recognized as a Designation of Origin?

A

1925

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6
Q

La Rioja is sometimes called the “Zone of the Seven Valleys”. Why?

A

Signifying the seven tributaries which flow the Sistem Iberico into the Ebro River:
* Oja
* Najerilla
* lregua
* Leza
* Jubera
* Cidacos
* Aljama

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7
Q

Where are most of Rioja’s oldest wineries found?

A

Barrio de la Estacion in Haro

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8
Q

What the northern mountain ranges protect Rioja?

A

Cold and rainy winds blowing inland from the norhtern coast

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9
Q

List four aging categories in Rioja

A
  • Generico
  • Crianza
  • Reserva
  • Gran Reserva
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10
Q

Aside from sur lie aging requirement, what are the two requirements of Espumusos de Calidad de Rioja? And one more for Espumoso Rosado

A
  • Alcohol : 11 - 13%
  • Metodo Tradicional
  • Min 25% authorized red varieties for Espumoso Rosado
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11
Q

Name three ancient inhabitants of La Rioja

A
  • Berones
  • Celtiberians
  • Vascones
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12
Q

When can Crianza labelled wines in Rioja be released at the earliest?

A

Their third year

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13
Q

What is the wine style of DOCa Rioja?

A

Tinto - 90%
Blanco - 5%
Rosado - 5%

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14
Q

What is the minimum barrel time required for Crianza Tinto in Rioja?
And for the traditional Crianza barrel aging requirement?

A

12 months
6 months for traditional aging

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15
Q

List five requirements for labelling Crianza, Reserva and Grand Reserva in Rioja

A
  1. Oak barrels - 225 liter size
  2. No oak chips/staves
  3. Time in oak not interrupted
  4. Prior approval for Vino Blanco/Vino Rosado aging
  5. For white grapes into the making of red wines, max 5% for de-stemmed grapes and max 15% for whole clusters
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16
Q

True or False
Reserva and Gran Reserva Tintos in Rioja require a specific term of bottle aging while the tradtional aging has no specification

A

True
Reserva - Min 6 months
Gran Reserva Min 24 months

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17
Q

What are the minimum bottle aging for Reserva and Gran Reserva Tintos in Rioja?

A

6 months - Reserva
24 months - Gran Reserva
No minimum bottle requirements specificed for Traditional and Ribera del Duelo

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18
Q

List requirements for Vinos de Municipio

A
  • Winery located within the village stated on the label
  • Up to 15% of the grapes come from a neighboring village but if purchased a 10 year contract is required
  • Prodctuion fiugres must be transparent and traceable
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19
Q

What is the the two specific requirement for Gran Reserva Espumusos de Calidad de Rioja

A
  • Min 36 months sur lie aging
  • Vintage labelled
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20
Q

Which zones calcareous clay soils are mainly found in DOCa Rioja?

A
  • Rioja Alavesa
  • Rioja Alta

From the Cordillera Cantabria to the banks of the Ebro River

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21
Q

In DOCs Rioja what is the minimum percentage of red grapes required if destemmed?

A

95%
Otherwise 85%

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22
Q

What is the percentage of Tempranillo planting in Rioja?

A

75%
(88% of all red plantings)

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23
Q

List attributes (2) Garnacha Tinta brings to the blend with Temperanillo

A
  • Red fruit character
  • alcohol
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24
Q

Which zone most of Garnacha Tinta are found?

A

Rioja Oriental

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25
Q

Name autonomimous regions DOCa Rioja is located

A
  • La Rioja
  • Navarra
  • Pais Vasco
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26
Q

Which zone most plantings of Garnacha Tinta are found in DOCa Rioja?

A

Rioja Oriental

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27
Q

What is a powerful wind, blows from teh north or northwest usally during autumn and/or winter and imost dominant in Rioja Oriental?

A

Cierzo

28
Q

What is Vinos de Municipio

A

Village wines

29
Q

What are three white grapes authozied in DOCa Rioja in 2007?

A
  1. Chardonnay
  2. Sauvignon Blanc
  3. Verdejo
30
Q

Name the climate of the three zones in DOCa Rioja

A
  • Rioja Alta/Rioja Alavesa: Continental with maritime influence
  • Rioja Orierntal: Continental with Mediterranean influence
31
Q

Which zones Alluvial soils are found in DOCa Rioja?

A
  • Rioja Alta
  • Rioja Oriental

Along the banks of the Ebro River and its tributaries
45% of DOCa Rioja is Alluvial

32
Q

True or False
Alluviuam soils are mostly found Rioja Oriental only

A

True

33
Q

What is the aging requirement for Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja?

A

15 month minimum sur lie aging for any wine with two extended aging designations - Reserva and Gran Reserva

34
Q

Which zones in DOCa Rioja Ferous clay soils are found?

A
  • Rioja Alta
  • Rioja Oriental

Low mountains on the right bank of the Ebro River

35
Q

Which zone is the largest in DOCa Rioja?

A

Rioja Alta

36
Q

What is a unique pruning method used in Rioja and Andalucia?

A

Vara y Pulgar (stick and thumb)

37
Q

List attributes (4) Graciano and Mazuelo bring to the Tempranillo blend

A
  • Color
  • Tannin
  • Acidity
  • Spicy notes
38
Q

Describe Vinedos Singulares

A

Single vineyards terror driven designation in Rioja
Label will list the name of the vineyard plus “Vinedos Singular” beneath it with the individual vineyards registered as a brand

39
Q

What was “Generico” previously labeled in Rioja?

A

Joven (young) or Cosecha (harvest or vintage)

40
Q

List minimum sure lie aging for Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja, Reserva and Gran Reserva

A
  • Espumoso : 15 months
  • Reserva : 24 months
  • Gran Reserva : 36 months (must be vintage labelled)
41
Q

Name two mountain ranges bordered to north of La Rioja

A
  • Montes Obarenes
  • Soerra de Tolono (part of Sierra de Catabria)
42
Q

Name two primary red varieties and one primay white variety of DOCa Rioja

A
  • White: Viura (Macabeo)
  • Red: Tempranillo. Garnacha Tinta
43
Q

What is the climate of La Rioja?

A

Continental

44
Q

True or False
Generico and Crianza category each accounts for 40% of the wines produced in Rioja

A

True

45
Q

True or False
Rioja producers outside Cava zone cannot label their sparkling wines Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja

A

False
They have the opportunity to label their sparkling wines as a DOCa wine aloing with those currently producing Cava

46
Q

Why is Bodegas R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia noteworthy?

A

DOCa Rioja’s oldest bodega

47
Q

Which side of the Ebro River Rioja Alavesa is located?

A

The left bank

48
Q

Which “Vara” or “Pulgar” produces this year’s harvest?

A

Vara (stick - a cane of seven to eight buds)

49
Q

Which Rioja zone is well known for “Consecheros”?

A

Rioja Alavesa

50
Q

Describe “Cosecheros”

A

Grape growers who produce a young red wine using a method similar to semi carbonic maceration

51
Q

What are the two mountain ranges to the south of Rioja?

A
  • Sierra de la Demanda
  • Sierra de Cameros
52
Q

Which of thee Rioja zones is the warmest?

A

Rioja Oriental

53
Q

List three sweetness levels allowed for Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja

A
  • Brut Nature 0-3 g/l
  • Extra Brut 0 6g/l
  • Brut 0-12 g/l
54
Q

List Crianza Blancos minimum release time for tradtional and Rioja

A
  • Traditional: 18 months
  • Rioja: 24 months
55
Q

True or False
Approximately 90% of the wine produced in Rioja is Tinto

A

True

56
Q

Name three zones of Rioja DOCa

A
  • Rioja Alavesa
  • Rioja Alta
  • Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja)
57
Q

What the two mountain ranges to the south protect Rioja from?

A

Severa climate and warm winds of the Meseta

58
Q

True or False
La Rioja is Spain’s smallest autonomous region

A

False
Second smallest

59
Q

What are the two requirements placed on Vinos de Zona?

A
  1. Up to 15% of the grapes may come from a neighboring zone but if purchased a minium of 10 year contract is required
  2. Production figures must be transparent and traceable
60
Q

What is Spain’s longest river passing through some of the important cities in DOCa Rioja (Haro, Logrono, Calahorra and Alfaro) on its way to the Mediterranean?

A

The Ebro River

61
Q

Which grape accounts for most of the white plantings in DOCa Rioja?

A

Viura (Macabeo)
69% of all planted white grapes

62
Q

What year Rioja received Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa), the first in Spain?

A

1991

63
Q

What are the minimum bottle aging for Gran Reserva Tintos for Traditional and Rioja aging?

A
  • Traditional: 18months
  • Rioja: 24 months
64
Q

What are three grape varieties generally used to blend Tempranillo to boost alcohol levels?

A
  1. Garnacha Tinta
  2. Mazuelo (Carinena)
  3. Graciano
65
Q

True or False
Vinos de Zona designation is often used by wineries in Rioja Oriental

A

False
Wineries in the famed sub-zones of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa capitalize on thier reputations and use this labeling