RIOJA / RIBERA

Question 1

RIOJA RED BLEND

Answer 1

Principal Red Grape: Tempranillo
Secondary Red Grapes: Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, Maturana Tinta

95% authorized red grapes (if destemmed), min. 85% authorized red grapes (if whole clusters or whole berries are used); the remaining 5-15% could be any experimental grape. Typically, Monastrell or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 2

RIOJA WHITE BLEND

Answer 2

Principal White Grape: Viura (Macabeo)

Secondary White Grapes: Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Tempranillo Blanca, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés

Blanco: 100% authorized white grapes (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo combined must account for less than 50% of the blend)

Question 3

RIOJA ROSADO

Answer 3

Rosado: min. 25% combined Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha Tinta, Maturana Tinta and Graciano

Question 4

RIOJA MAP

Answer 4

Question 5

RIOJA TINTO AGING

Answer 5

Crianza: min. 2 years, including at least 1 year in oak

Reserva Tinto: min. 3 years, including at least 1 year in oak

Gran Reserva Tinto: min. 24 months in oak and 36 months in bottle

Rioja casks must be 225 liters—the size of a barrique

Question 6

RIOJA ROSADO/BLANCO AGING

Answer 6

Crianza Blanco/Rosado: min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder may be in bottle, oak or stainless steel)

Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Gran Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 4 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Rioja casks must be 225 liters—the size of a barrique

Question 7

OTHER AGING TERMS (all DOPs)

Answer 7

vino joven, young wine (no aging requirement)

Noble: 18 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Añejo: 24 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo: 36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character

Question 8

LOPEZ HEREDIA WINES

Answer 8

RESERVA & GRAN RESERVA vineyards:

Tondonia (Bdx Bottle - fruit and structure, usually 75 Tempranillo, rest Maz. and Grac.)

Bosconia (Burg. Bottle - bigger, warmer, earthier, spend a year less in oak, higher perc. Tempranillo)

Tondonia also makes whites, Bosconia does not (Tondonia white is 85% Viura, and ages 6 years in barrel)

CUBILLO

red only, a crianza that has the taste of Tondonia

GRAVONIA

white only, 4 years in barrel, 100% Viura

Question 9

RIBERA DEL DUERO TINTO/ROSADO BLEND

Answer 9

Tinto: min. 75% Tinta del País (Tempranillo), max. 5% Garnacha and Albillo Mayor

Rosado: min. 50% authorized red varieties

Recommended: Tinta del País / Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
Authorized: Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor

Question 10

RIBERA DEL DUERO TINTO/ROSADO AGING

Answer 10

Crianza: Rosado: min. 24 months, including at least 6 months in oak (approx. 225 liter capacity)
Tinto: min. 24 months, including at least 12 months in oak (approx. 225 liter capacity)

Reserva (Tinto only): min. 3 years, including at least 12 months in oak
Gran Reserva (Tinto only): min. 24 months in oak and 36 months in bottle

Question 11

REST OF SPAIN AGING REQUIRMENTS

Answer 11

Crianza: RED 2 years (including 6 months in cask) WHITE/ROSE 18 months (including 6 months in cask)
Reserva: RED 3 years (including 1 year in cask) WHITE/ROSE 2 years (including 6 months in cask)
Gran Reserva : RED 5 yrs (including 18 months in cask) WHITE/ROSE 4 years (including 6 months in cask)

Question 12

VEGA SICILIA HISTORY / UNICO

Answer 12

-founded in by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who in 1864 planted a number of Bordeaux varietals and—curiously—a little Pinot Noir alongside Tinto del País (Tempranillo) in order to make brandy

1929, following an ownership change and a transition to estate-bottled table wines, new winemaker Domingo Txomin achieved international acclaim at the Barcelona World’s Fair with his 1917 and 1918 vintages of Único

Único, blended from Tinto del País, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot and aged, often for a decade or more in American and French oak barrels, has long commanded extravagantly high prices, even as a simple vino de mesa—Ribera del Duero did not achieve DO status until 1982

Question 13

RIOJA TOWNS (PRODUCERS)

Answer 13

HARO (la rioja alta, lopez de heredia, cvne, muga, roda)

LOGROÑO (artadi, marques de murrieta)

FUENMAYOR (bodegas LAN, finca lapiedra)

CENICERO (marques de caceres)

SAN VINCENTE DE LA SONSIERRA (senorio de san vincente, hermanos peciña)

BRIONES (finca allende)

LABASTIDA (ALAVESA) (la granja nuestra señora de remelluri)

OYON (ALAVESA) (bodegas el coto)