La Rioja Flashcards
Who are the 2 men who drastically improved viticulture in La Rioja?
Marques de Murrieta & Marques de Riscal. They learned when on exile in Bordeaux during the Carlist Wars.
When did Rioja become a DOCa?
1991
What percentages of DO La Rioja are found outside of La Rioja?
20% in Pais Vasco
11% in Navarra
What are the mountains in the North and the South that create a natural border in La Rioja?
North: Montes Obarenes and Sierra de Toloño (part of the Sierra de Cantabria).
South: Sierra de Demanda (on the Western edge of the Sistema Iberico) and the Sierra de Cameros. These mountains protect La Rioja from the harsh Meseta Central. Many of the Ebro tributaries originate here.
What forms the natural border between La Rioja and Pais Vasco?
The Ebro River. It forms a gorge between the Montes Obarenes abd Sierra de Toloño.
What is a nickname for La Rioja?
The land of 7 valleys. Signifying the 7 tributaries that flow from the Sistema Iberico to the Ebro
El Cierzo
A powerful wind that originates when there is an anticyclone over the Bay of Biscay and blows N/NW through the Ebro River Valley. It appears during autumn or winter and is most common in Rioja Oriental.
It chases out humidity and moderates temperatures.
Soil types in La Rioja
Calcareous clay - on steep terraces from Cord. Cantabrica to Ebro. Very poor soils. 30% DOC Rioja
Ferrous clay - compact and hard for vines to penetrate. 25% of DOC Rioja
Alluvial deposits - vines can only root just over 1m before hitting limestone hardpan 45% of DOC Rioja is alluvial
Rioja Alta has all 3 soil types.
What do the typical blending grapes bring to the blend?
Garnacha adds red fruit and alcohol
Mazuelo and Graciano add color, tannin, acidity and spicy notes.
A blend typically compromises of 60-80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and small amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano.
What is the main white grape?
Viura (Macabeo) accounts for 69% of all planted white grapes.
As of 2007, Chardonnay, Sav Blanc and Verdejo can also be grown.
Vara y Pulgar
Stick and thumb. Each vine grows from a single trunk with 2 arms and production alternates between them year to year.
Method is also used in Andalucia.
Cosecheros
grape growers who produce young red wine using method similar to semi-carbonic maceration
whole grapes are added to tanks or wooden vats. An enzymatic reaction takes place within the berry until the grape bursts and releases its juice. Fermentation then takes over thanks to the wild yeasts on the grape skins. Once fermentation finishes, the must is trampled by foot, filtered and bottled.
Rioja Alavesa is well known for this method
What percentage of wine in La Rioja is red?
90%
If grapes are destemmed, what percentage of red grapes must be used?
95%
If whole bunches of grapes are used, what percentage of red grapes must be used?
85%
Rioja Alavesa
Located completely within the Alava region of Pais Vasco.
21% of total vinyards.
Protected from the Atlantic by Sierra de Cantabria but still has some maritime influences.
Wines are highly prized for aging potential
Soils are calcareous (chalky) clay with high limestone content.
Vineyards are usually south facing.
Small quantities of Graciano and Mazuelo are grown at lower elevations.
Rioja Alta
Most historic zone in the region. Haro is located here.. Ebro river forms N border, Sierra de la Demanda forms S border. The Oja valley has some of the highest peaks in the region. All is located within La Rioja aut. region.
Like Alavesa, temps are lower and rainfall is higher than R Oriental.
Most diverse soil makeup: N of Ebro, calcareous clay but there are ferrous clay and alluvial deposits throughout.
Tempranillo is principal varietal.
