Rioja & Navarra Flashcards
What river flows down from the Cantabrian mountains through Rioja?
Ebro
When did Rioja become Spain’s first DOCa? When was the DO established?
1991
1933
How long has wine been made in the Rioja area?
It believed since before Roman conquest, by Celtic tribes.
What is Carignan’s name in Spain?
What is it in Rioja?
Carinena
Mazuelo
Historically, was more white or red made in Rioja?
White
In what century would Rioja production shift to red wine?
What organization was established towards the end of that century?
18th
Real Sociedad Economica de Cosecheros de Rioja in 1787.
How did the French affect the wine industry in Rioja as phylloxera rampaged through France?
Not only bringing skilled labor, but they had capital for infrastructure, and built a railroad from Bilbao to Haro. Wineries built their operations right next to the train station, where today you will still find La Rioja Alta, Cvne, and Lopez di Heredia.
What are the wire cages around some bottles of Rioja called, and what were they for?
Mallas
To curb counterfeiting in the early 20th century.
What mountain range barricades Rioja from Atlantic winds?
Sierra de Cantabria range
Often, vintages in Rioja are described one of two ways, by these two climates, that intersect in the region.
Atlantic (cooler and wetter)
Mediterranean (warmer and drier)
What are the 3 Rioja sub-regions?
Which is largest?
Rioja Alta (largest, about 40%)
Rioja Oriental
Rioja Alavesa
In Rioja Alta, talk about climate and soil type, and the rivers that run in the area.
Furthest West, Rioja Alta gets the most Atlantic influence. The Oja river valley has chalky alluvial soils, the Najerilla river valley is iron rich clay.
In Rioja Alavesa, what distinguishes the Basque portion of the region in terms of style and terroir?
Its the highest elevation of the three areas, with more limestone soils and the highest proportion of Tempranillo. While very expensive wines come from here, traditionally, a carbonically macerated Tempranillo is widely produced, the style predating the French influence.
In Rioja Oriental, what is different from Alavesa and Alta?
Garnacha is much more prevalent, in the warmer Mediterranean portion of the region. Typically the first to pick.
As recently as 1973, what was the most widely planted grape in Rioja?
Garnacha
What red grapes are blended into Tempranillo and Garnacha in the Rioja region?
Mazuelo, Graciano, and Maturana Tinta
What percent white grapes can you blend into a Tinto Rioja?
5% if you destem
15% if you dont
You’ve enjoyed white, red, and rosado Rioja before…What other styles are made in the region?
Espumoso, blanc and rosado
What is Maturana Tinta known as in France?
Trousseau
What white grapes typically are used in making Rioja blanco?
Viura with a little Malvasia, sometimes Garnacha Blanca
What are the ageing requirements when a Rioja is labeled Crianza? (white/rosado & red)
Red: 2 years total, 1 in oak
White/Rosado: 18 months total, 6 in oak
What are the ageing requirements when a Rioja is labeled Reserva? (white/rosado & red)
Red: 3 years total, 1 in oak, 6 months btl
White/Rosado: 2 years total, 6 months oak
What are the ageing requirements when a Rioja is labeled Gran Reserva? (white/rosado & red)
Red: 5 years, 2 in oak, 2 in bottle
White/Rosado: 4 years, 6 in oak
When did Rioja officially allow village names to appear on bottles?
What stipulations are there?
2017
Can only name a village if the vineyard and production facility is there too.
What did Rioja’s Consejo Regulador also recognize in 2017, something Lopez di Heredia already knows plenty about…
Stipulations?
Single Vineyard wines (Vinedo Singular)
Hand harvested, vines 35 years of age, and yields are 30% lower.
Espumoso wines were permitted in Rioja in 2017 also. What are the production requirements? (method, color, lees time x3)
Traditional method, white and rosado
Crianza = 15 months lees
Reserva = 24 months lees
Gran Anada = 36 months lees
What might a producer seeking to make a modernist Rioja do? (5)
- 100% Tempranillo
- Single sub-region, or single vineyard
- Temperature controlled fermentation in steel.
- Elevage in new French oak
- Cold soak maceration
What would a traditional Rioja producer do in making their wine? (4)
- Blending grapes and sub regions
- open top fermentation vessel
- old American oak ageing
- adherence to crianza, reserva, gran reserva timelines, if not longer.
Who makes the Rioja ‘Magico’ and ‘Finca El Bosque’
Sierra Cantabria
Who makes the Rioja ‘Las Beatas’
Bodega Lanzaga
Who makes the Rioja ‘Quinon de Valmira’
Alvaro Palacios
Who makes the Rioja Vina Real Reserva Especial?
CVNE
Who makes the Rioja ‘Aro’ and ‘Prado Enea’
Muga
Who makes Castillo Ygay?
Marques de Murrietta
In Navarra DO, what are they historically known for producing?
Rosados
What are the rosados of Navarra most like?
Method used?
More like Bordeaux clairets, deeply pigmented.
Saignee
What are the 5 Navarra Sub Regions?
Where is production concentrated?
Tierra Estrella
Valdizarbe
Baja Montana
Ribera Alta - these 2 areas total
Ribera Baja - about 66% of production
In Navarra DO, what red grapes dominate plantings?
What others are here?
Garnacha and Tempranillo.
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot
How many DO Pago wineries are in Navarra? Name em.
Senorio de Arinzano
Prado Irache
Bodegas Otazu
Bolandin
What min % of Rioja Rosado must be red grapes?
min 25%
What is Viura known as in other parts of Spain?
Macabeo
What 2 iconic Rioja producers are located in Logrono?
Marques de Murrietta
Artadi
Compare & contrast the 2020, and 2019 vintages for Rioja.
2020 was a wet vintage, warm but with high mildew pressure. Wines are lighter.
2019 was better, warmer and more consistent. Ripe fruit and balanced wines
How were the Rioja vintages of 2016-2018?
2018 was a good mid tier vintage. ABV’S were moderate, the style fresh.
2017 was an extremely difficult year, frost and drought, out of balance wines
2016 was an excellent vintage. Ripeness, balance, aromatics, great yields.
Compare the 2014 and 2015 Rioja vintages.
2015 was a warm ripe powerful vintage, with concentration. the higher elevation sites in particular fared very well
2014 was an okay average vintage. a bit wet, rot was an issue, fresher style vintage.
How were the 2011, 2012, and 2013 vintages in Rioja?
2013 had a cool Spring and wetter season. ripening a bit uneven, wines lighter.
2012 not viewed as great, drought with super low yields, high tannin, no ageability.
2011 powerful concentrated wines from this hot vintage, lower acidities. good vintage to drink now.
How were the 2009 and 2010 vintages in Rioja?
2010 was the better vintage, more uniform weather and warmth.
2009 got very hot at times, still delivered quality due to timely rains.
How are the 2008, 2007, and 2006 vintages in Rioja?
2008 was good, good weather in Fall, balanced wines with a bit of everything.
2007 was a rough vintage, back to back with the 2006. Fruit struggled to ripen in 07, hot summer drought in 06.
How were the 2004 and 2005 vintages in Rioja?
Both excellent vintages that provide ripe fruit and expressive wines. The 04’s are ready now, the 05’s perhaps can go a bit longer.
How were the 2002 and 2003 vintages for Rioja?
Challenging like many other places in Europe. 2002’s are likely past peak. 2003 wines were out of balance and inconsistent. 2003 was a nasty drought year, 2002 a nasty cold wet year.
What size barrel is required for still wines in Rioja?
225L
What % of the crop is required to originate from the ‘Municipio’ or ‘Zona’ if labeled Vino de Municipio or Vino de Zona in Rioja?
100%, unless you have a 10 year history working with a neighboring place, in which case 15% may come from outside.
What’s the max r/s or dosage on a Vino Espumoso de Calidad from Rioja?
max 12 g/L
What requirements are there of the Rioja tinto blend?
min 85% red, 95% if destemmed
approved grapes
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Mazuelo (carignan)
Graciano
Maturana Tinta
