Rioja

Question 1

What mountain ranges bracket North Central Spain?

Answer 1

Pyranees (NE)

Cantabrias (NW)

Question 2

What authonomías comprise North Central Spain?

Answer 2

Rioja, Navarra, Aragón

Question 3

What river runs through Rioja?

Answer 3

The Ebro River

Question 4

When was Rioja elevated to DOCa?

Answer 4

1991

Question 5

What is the varietal makeup of red Rioja?

Answer 5

min. 85% Tempranillo, plus Mazuelo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Maturana Tinta (since 2007); 95% if destemmed
max 15% Monastel, Cab Sauv, or other “experimental grapes”

Question 6

What is the synonym for Mazuelo?

Answer 6

Carignan

Question 7

What is the varietal makeup of white Rioja?

Answer 7

Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía Riojano, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanca, Turruntés
Verdejo, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are permitted at max 49% of the blend

Question 8

What is the synonym for Viura?

Answer 8

Macabeo

Question 9

Rosado Rioja requires what % of red grapes?

Answer 9

25.00%

Question 10

Aging requirements for Crianza (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)

Answer 10

Whites: 2 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 2 years, with 1yr in oak

Question 11

Aging requirements for Reserva (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)

Answer 11

Whites: 2 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 3 years, with 1yr in oak

Question 12

Aging requirements for Gran Reserva (Rioja & Ribera del Duero)

Answer 12

Whites: 4 years, with 6mos in oak
Reds: 5 years, with 2yrs in oak and 3 in bottle

Question 13

What is the main product of Rioja Alavesa? Where is it?

Answer 13

The Northernmost zone, in Basque Country (North of the Ebro from Rioja Alta). Produces fresh, vino joven styled wines, often through carbonic maceration.

Question 14

What is the soil makeup of Rioja Alta?

Answer 14

Yellow calcareous clay (arcillo-calcareo) in the north

Red, iron-rich clay (arcillo-ferroso) south of the Ebro

Question 15

What is the soil makeup of Rioja Alavesa?

Answer 15

Calcareous clay dominates in Alavesa (and all vineyards between the Cantabrias and the north bank of the Ebro)

Question 16

What is the soil makeup of Rioja Baja?

Answer 16

Alluvial soils and ferrous clay

Question 17

What protects Rioja from Atlantic winds?

Answer 17

Sierra de Cantabria

Question 18

What is the industrial capital of Rioja?

Answer 18

Logroño

Question 19

When, and by whom, was French oak introduced into Rioja?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What size barrel is mandated for the aging of red Rioja wines?

Answer 20

225L (the size of a barrique)

Question 21

What is the capital of Rioja Alta?

Answer 21

Haro

Question 22

What is the capital of Rioja Baja?

Answer 22

Alfaro

Question 23

Where are the highest elevation vineyards in Rioja, and who farms them?

Answer 23

Labastida, in the northern end of Rioja Alavesa; they reach 700M.
Farmed by Remelluri.

Question 24

What is the climatic difference between Rioja Alta and Alavesa?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Major bodegas in Haro

Answer 25

Lopez de Heredia
La Rioja Alta
CVNE
Muga
Roda

Question 26

Major bodegas in Cenicero

Answer 26

Marques de Caceres
Bodegas Riojanas
Santa Daria (coop)

Question 27

Where is Marques de Murrieta?

Answer 27

Logroño

Question 28

Logroño is generally known as an industrial capital and not a hub for viticultue. What significant vineyard is the exception to this rule?

Answer 28

Finca Ygay (Marques de Murrieta)

Question 29

What are the permitted training methods of Rioja?

Answer 29

Cordon (single or double)
En Vaso
Vara y Pulgar
Double Guyot (permitted for whites, excpet Viura, Malvasía, and Garnacha Blanca)

Question 30

Is chaptalization permitted in Rioja?

Answer 30

NO