La Rioja Flashcards
How long is wine believed to have been produced in La Rioja?
~3,000years
Ever since the Phoenicians inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.
Where is La Rioja located?
This autonomous region is in north-central Spain and is bordered by Pais Vasco and Navarra to the north and east, Aragon to the southeast, and Castilla y Leon to the south and west.
It encompasses much of the Ebro River Valley, sitting at the western end. The Sierra de la Demanda range (part of the Sistema Iberico) forms its southern border.
Where is DOCa Rioja located?
This wine region is located in the northern half of La Rioja(69%).
Portions of it spills over into the neighboring communitites of Pais Vasco(20%) & Navarra(11%).
This wine region stretches northwest to southeast along the Ebro River for ~62mi/100km.
What is the purpose of the Real Sociedad Economica de Cosecheros de Rioja?
The Royal Economic Society of Rioja Winegrowers was created in 1787 in order to continue protecting Rioja’s reputation. The group monitored and regulated vine cultivation, wine production, and wine exportation.
What are the origins of Castilian Spanish?
Spanish evolved from a dialect of spoken Latin brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans.
It continued to evolve in the north-central part of the peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE.
It later became the basis for the written standard and due, in part, to the prestige of Castile, spread south during the Reconquista.
Spanish first appeard around the mid-11th century as written notes on Latin texts, referred to as “glosses.”
Who is Gonzalo de Berceo?
A secular priest who was educated and lived at the Monastery of Yuso in the 13th century. This writer/poet is credited with the earliest evidence of prose available in Castilian Spanish.
When did Castillian Spanish become the official language of Spain?
In the late 15th century, after the unification of Castilla y Leon.
Why were the monasteries of San Millan de la Cogolla in La Rioja awarded “World Heritage” status by UNESCO in 1997?
It is the birthplace of the modern written and spoken Spanish language.
What qualitative and quantitative controls were introduced by Rioja’s Consejo Regulador?
- monitoring harvest yields
- monitoring production volume
- tracking of aging/barrel regimens for each vintage
How does the size of La Rioja compare to other autonomous regions in Spain?
This is the second-smallest autonomous region.
What is the capitol of La Rioja?
Logrono
(Almost 50% of the region’s population lives here)
Name the 3 zones of DOCa Rioja.
- Rioja Alavesa (21% of total vineyard area)
- Rioja Alta (42%)
- Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja) (37%)
What is the overall climate in La Rioja?
Continental
* summer: hot, dry with ample sun
* autumn: mild
* winter: cold
* spring: frost is common
Note: the valley is much drier than the surrounding mountains and experiences more extreme temperatures.
What is the climate in Rioja Alavesa & Rioja Alta?
Continental
* maritime influence from the Bay of Biscay
* slightly more humid than Rioja Oriental
* lower average temperatures
* cooler & wetter than Rioja Oriental
* higher rainfall (12-24in/300-600mm annually) with mountainous areas receiving more
What is the climate in Rioja Oriental?
Continental
* the warmest zone
* influenced somewhat by the Mediterranean Sea
* tends to be slightly more arid than the other 2 zones.
Name the mountain ranges surrounding La Rioja.
To the north:
* Montes Obarenes
* Sierra de Tolono: part of the larger Sierra de Cantabria, the foothills of the Pyrenean-Cantabrian mountain range
To the south:
* Sierra de la Demanda: the western end of the Sistema Iberico
* Sierra de Cameros: situated in south-central La Rioja
How do the mountain ranges of La Rioja contribute to the mesoclimate of the area?
The northern mountains protect the area from the cold & rainy winds blowing inland from the northern coast.
The southern mountains serve to separate the region from the severe climate & warm winds of the Meseta.
Name the higheast mountain peak in La Rioja.
Monte San Lorenzo of the Sierra de la Demanda (7,451ft/2,271m)
Which mountain range does many of the Ebro river’s tributaries originate from?
Sierra de La Demanda
What is Spain’s longest river?
Ebro River
Where is the Ebro River located?
This river originates in Cantabria and flows east through Castilla y Leon before entering La Rioja via a narrow gorge between the Montes Obarenes and Sierra de Tolono, forming a natural border between much of Pais Vasco and La Rioja.
From there, it continues for 75mi/120km on its way to the Mediterranean Sea passing through some of the most important cities in DOCa Rioja, including:
* Haro & Logrono (Rioja Alta)
* Calahorra & Alfaro (Rioja Oriental)
Why is La Rioja sometimes called the “Zone of the Seven Valleys”?
This name signifies the 7 tributaries which flow from the Sistema Iberico into the Ebro River.
They form small, individual river valleys which collectively become the larger Ebro River Valley.
Name the 7 river valleys that are the tributaries of the Ebro River.
- Oja
- Najerilla
- Iregua
- Leza
- Jubera
- Cidacos
- Alhama
What is the Cierzo?
A powerful wind that pummels La Rioja.
It originates when there is an anticyclone over the Bay of Biscay and blows from the north or northwest through the Ebro River Valley reaching speeds of up to 62mph/100kmh.
It usually appears during autumn and/or winter and is most dominant in Rioja Oriental.
How does La Rioja benefit from the Cierzo?
This wind benefits the vineyards by chasing away humidity & moderating temperatures. This allows the grapes to ripen more gradually and with less disease pressure.
Which are the 3 classifications of soil types in Rioja?
- Calcareous (chalky) clay (30%): found on steep terraces extending from the Cordillera Cantabrica to the banks of the Ebro River; throughout the whole of Rioja Alavesa and sections of Rioja Alta nearest the river.
- Ferrous clay (25%): found on the low mountains on the right bank of the Ebro River and on lower hillsides in both Rioja Alta & Rioja Oriental
- Alluviums (45%): found throughout Rioja Alta & Rioja Oriental along the banks of the Ebro River & its tributaries.
Why are the vines planted on alluvial soils in La Rioja susceptible to both drought and water-logging?
Vines planted here are able to root to just over 3.3ft/1m before hitting a layer of limestone hardpan which prevents the roots from going any deeper.
Where do recent studies show to be Tempranillo’s origin?
The upper Ebro River Valley
What is the most widely planted grape variety in La Rioja?
Tempranillo
* 75% of total area under vine
* 88% of all red plantings
Note: as recent as the early 1970s, it occupied a mere 30% of vineyard land; Garnacha Tinta occupied almost 40%!
Why is Tempranillo typically blended with other varieties? Which varieties?
This grape produces lower-alcohol wine when vinified as a varietal.
Varieties commonly blended with it are:
* Garnacha Tinta (preferred)
* Mazuelo (Carinena)
* Graciano
What characteristics do other authorized red grapes add to Tempranillo-based blends?
- Garnacha Tinta: red fruit character & alcohol
- Mazuelo & Graciano: color, tannin, acidity, & spicy notes
Where in La Rioja are most Garnacha Tinta vines planted?
Rioja Oriental
This variety is late-ripening, so it benefits from warmer areas.
What percentage of which grape varieties comprise a typical Riojan blend?
- 60-80% Tempranillo
- 20% Garnacha Tinta
- Lesser amounts of Mazuelo & Graciano
