Rioja Flashcards
Name the autonomías of Spain that make up North-Central wine producing area.
Navarro
La Rioja
Aragón
What mountain ranges provide the rain shadow for North-Central Spain wine producing region?
The Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast and the Canatbrian Mountains to the northwest.
What is considered to be Spain’s prmier red wine region?
Rioja DOCa
What is the main red grape of Rioja DOCa?
Tempranillo
What are some traditional blending partners of Tempranillo in Rioja?
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
Maturana Tinta
What grapes must make up 85% of a red wine in Rioja?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
Maturana Tinta
What is the dominant white grape used in Rioja wines?
Viura (Macabéo)
What are some other prominent white grapes used in Rioja to make wine?
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasía Riojano
Maturana Blanca
What other white grapes may be used in Rioja but cannot account for more than a combined 49% of the blend?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Verdejo
What are the aging requirements for a Crianza red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Crianza wines of Spain?
A Crianza red wine in Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years including 1 year in cask.
A general crianza red wine of Spain must be aged for at least 2 years with 6 months in cask.
What are the aging requirements for a Reserva red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Reserva red wines of Spain?
Reserva red wine in Rioja requires at least 3 years of aging including 1 in cask.
There is no aging difference between a reserva red wine from Rioja and the rest of Spain
What are the aging requirements for a Gran Reserva red wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Gran Reserva wines of Spain?
A gran reserva red wine of Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
A general gran reserva red wine of Spain must be aged for 5 years including 18 months in oak.
What are the aging requirements for a Crianza white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Crianza wines of Spain?
A Crianza white wine of Rioja must be aged for at least 2 years including 6 months in oak.
A general Crianza white wine of Spain must be aged for 18 months including 6 months in oak
What are the aging requirements for a Reserva white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Reserva wines of Spain?
A Reserva white wine of Rioja must be aged for 2 years including 6 months in oak.
There is no difference in aging requirements of a reserva white wine from Rioja or Spain in general.
What are the aging requirements for a Gran Reserva white wine of Rioja and how do they differ from the general Gran Reserva wines of Spain?
A Gran Reserva white wine of Rioja must be aged for 4 years including 6 months in oak.
There is no difference in aging requirements of a gran reserva white wine from Rioja or Spain in general.