Rioja

Question 1

When did Benedictine monks arrive in Rioja?

Answer 1

11th century

Question 2

When did exports of Rioja begin?

Answer 2

13th century

Question 3

When were first regulations of Rioja start?

Answer 3

Mid 16th century. Grapes from outside of Rioja banned in wines

Question 4

Don Manuel Quintano

Answer 4

Monk from winemaking family, visited Bdx in late 18th c, bring back techniques, barrel aging, etc. Tried to implement in Rioja but too cost prohibitive at time

Question 5

Marques de Riscal and Marques de Murrietta

Answer 5

Exiled in Bdx in Carlist Wars, brought winemaking techniques back to Rioja, credited with changing industry

Question 6

Who created wire caging?

Answer 6

Marques de Riscal in late 1800s, to dissuade counterfeiting

Question 7

What year did Rioja get DOCa status?

Answer 7

1991

Question 8

What is the defining topographical feature?

Answer 8

Ebro River Basin

Question 9

Zone of Seven Valleys

Answer 9

Tributaries running into Ebro create 7 valleys in Rioja

Question 10

Cierzo

Answer 10

Strong, cool, dry wind from Bay of Biscay, anticyclone from N/NW, lands in east part of La Rioja in autumn/winter. Chases out humidity, slows growing season

Question 11

Which subzone overlaps 2 autonomous regions?

Answer 11

Rioja Oriental (La Rioja, Navarra)

Question 12

Which subzone is exclusively in País Vasco?

Answer 12

Alavesa

Question 13

What subzone is most planted?

Answer 13

Alta, 42% of vineyard land

Question 14

Is DO Cava permitted in La Rioja?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

Soils

Answer 15

Chalky clay - Alavesa, Alta Ferrous clay (iron) - Alta, Oriental (about 25%) Alluvium - (50%) Alta, Oriental. Highly mechanized

Question 16

Vara y Pulgar

Answer 16

“Stick and thumb” Training alternated from year to year

Stick is cut back to rest, and becomes next years thumb, the thumb from the previous year now becomes the stick with 7-8 buds.

Question 17

Grape percentages

Answer 17

Tempranillo 80% Garnacha Tinta 7% Viura 6.5%

Question 18

Garnacha Tinta

Answer 18

Warm climate grape Vigorous, early budding, late ripening Subject to downy mildew, botrytis Red fruits

Question 19

Viura

Answer 19

Macabeo Thick skinned, large bunches Late budding, late ripening Floral, aromatic, lower acid Ages well, oxidation resistant

Question 20

Joven in Rioja is now what?

Answer 20

Genérico

Question 21

Rioja Crianza

Answer 21

12 months barrel No bottle min Min 2 year from Oct 1 of harvest year before release

Question 22

Rioja Reserva

Answer 22

12 months barrel 6 months bottle 36 months before release

Question 23

Rioja Crianza Tinto

Answer 23

12 months barrel No bottle min Min 2 year from Oct 1 of harvest year before release

Question 24

Rioja Reserva Tinto

Answer 24

12 months barrel 6 months bottle 36 months before release

Question 25

Rioja Gran Reserva Tinto

Answer 25

24 months barrel 24 months bottle 60 months before release

Question 26

Cosecha

Answer 26

“Harvest”

Question 27

Rioja Crianza Blanco/Rosado

Answer 27

6 months barrel No min bottle Min 2 years from Oct 1 of harvest year

Question 28

Rioja Reserva Blanco/Rosado

Answer 28

6 months barrel No min bottle 24 months before release

Question 29

Rioja Gran Reserva Blanco/Rosado

Answer 29

6 months barrel No min bottle 48 months before release

Question 30

Zonal Classifications

Answer 30

Aging classifications can overlap Genérico - do not belong to any zone, municipality, vineyard Vino de Zona - 1998, any of 3 subzones. Min 85% of grapes from zone. Vini also done in that zone. Purchased grapes must have min 10 year partnership w winery Vino de Municipio - 1999, 144 municipalities, min 85% grapes Viñedo Singular - 2017, vines min 35 years old, 20% lower yields than DOCa requirement, hand harvested, tasting panel

Question 31

Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja

Answer 31

Método Tradicional 11-13% abv Min 15 months Reserva 24 months Gran Añada - 36 months Brut Nature, Ex Brut, Brut only

Question 32

DOCa Rioja wine styles

Answer 32

90% tinto 5% Blanco 5 % rosado