Rioja Flashcards
What mountain ranges bracket North Central Spain?
Pyranees (NE)
Cantabrias (NW)
What authonomías comprise North Central Spain?
Rioja, Navarra, Aragón
What river runs through Rioja?
The Ebro River
When was Rioja elevated to DOCa?
1991
What is the varietal makeup of red Rioja?
min. 85% Tempranillo, plus Mazuelo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Maturana Tinta (since 2007); 95% if destemmed
max 15% Monastel, Cab Sauv, or other “experimental grapes”
What is the synonym for Mazuelo?
Carignan
What is the varietal makeup of white Rioja?
Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía Riojano, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanca, Turruntés
Verdejo, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are permitted at max 49% of the blend
What is the synonym for Viura?
Macabeo
Rosado Rioja requires what % of red grapes?
25.00%
Aging requirements for Crianza (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)
Whites: 2 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 2 years, with 1yr in oak
Aging requirements for Reserva (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)
Whites: 2 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 3 years, with 1yr in oak
Aging requirements for Gran Reserva (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)
Whites: 4 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 5 years, with 2yrs in oak and 3 in bottle
What is the main product of Rioja Alavesa? Where is it?
The Northernmost zone, in Basque Country (North of the Ebro from Rioja Alta). Produces fresh, vino joven styled wines, often through carbonic maceration.
What is the soil makeup of Rioja Alta?
Yellow calcareous clay (arcillo-calcareo) in the north
Red, iron-rich clay (arcillo-ferroso) south of the Ebro
What is the soil makeup of Rioja Alavesa?
Calcareous clay dominates in Alavesa (and all vineyards between the Cantabrias and the north bank of the Ebro)
What is the soil makeup of Rioja Baja?
Alluvial soils and ferrous clay
What protects Rioja from Atlantic winds?
Sierra de Cantabria
What is the industrial capital of Rioja?
Logroño
When, and by whom, was French oak introduced into Rioja?
Originally by Marqués de Riscal and Marqués de Murrieta in the 1850’s/60’s;
in the modern period, in the 1970’s, by the Marqués de Cáceras
What size barrel is mandated for the aging of red Rioja wines?
225L (the size of a barrique)
What is the capital of Rioja Alta?
Haro
What is the capital of Rioja Baja?
Alfaro
Where are the highest elevation vineyards in Rioja, and who farms them?
Labastida, in the northern end of Rioja Alavesa; they reach 700M.
Farmed by Remelluri.
What is the climatic difference between Rioja Alta and Alavesa?
Alavesa is directly protected by the Sierra Cantabria from Atlantic winds; it is slightly warmer, and more affected by the Mediterranean.
The area from Alavesa to Sonsierra, while politically Rioja Alta, has more in common climatically with the rest of Alavesa.
Major bodegas in Haro
Lopez de Heredia La Rioja Alta CVNE Muga Roda
Major bodegas in Cenicero
Marques de Caceres
Bodegas Riojanas
Santa Daria (coop)
Where is Marques de Murrieta?
Logroño
Logroño is generally known as an industrial capital and not a hub for viticultue. What significant vineyard is the exception to this rule?
Finca Ygay (Marques de Murrieta)
What are the permitted training methods of Rioja?
Cordon (single or double)
En Vaso
Vara y Pulgar
Double Guyot (permitted for whites, excpet Viura, Malvasía, and Garnacha Blanca)
Is chaptalization permitted in Rioja?
NO
