Spain - La Rioja

Question 1

Sub-zones of Rioja

Answer 1

• *Rioja Alta**
• (best)
• structure and acidity -*

Rioja Alavesa
(smallest - northernmost)
(in Basque country)
- fresheness | carbonic -

• *Rioja Baja**
• (hottest - for bulk wines)
• extract | alcohol -*

Question 2

What are the authorized white varieties of

Rioja DOCa?

Answer 2

VMT-GMT
CSV

Viura

Malvasía

Tempranillo Blanca

Garnacha Blanca

Maturana Blanca

Turruntés

49% Max combined:
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Verdejo

75% Max white grapes
may be used in Rosado production

Question 3

What are the authorized red varieties of

Rioja DOCa?

Answer 3

T-GM-GM

Tempranillo

Garnacha

• *Mazuelo**
• (aka: Cariñena)*

Graciano

Maturana Tinta

==========

95% min of these if destemmed

85% min of these if whole cluster

==========

25% min of red grapes
must be used in Rosado wine production

Question 4

What are the main rivers of Rioja?

Answer 4

• *Ebro River**
• most important river*
• *Tiron River**
• (tributary of the Ebro)
• flows east towards Haro -*

Oja River
(tributary of the Tiron)
- flows north towards Haro -
this is the river Rioja is named after

Note:
- Ebro River starts in the Cantabrian Mountains and flows southeast to the Mediterranean near Tarragona.

Question 5

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(blanco - rosado)
[no sub-zone]

Answer 5

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 6

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(tinto)
​[no sub-zone]

Answer 6

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 7

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Baja Blanco)

Answer 7

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 8

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Alta/Alavesa Blanco)

Answer 8

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 9

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Baja Rosado)

Answer 9

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 10

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Alta/Alavesa Rosado)

Answer 10

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 11

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Baja Tinto)

Answer 11

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 12

Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa
(Alta/Alavesa Tinto)

Answer 12

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 13

ALL Min alcohol of

Rioja DOCa

Answer 13

Blanco
(without Sub-Zone)
​{same for Rosado}
​~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Blanco Alta/Alavesa
~11% min ABV~

Blanco Baja
~11.5% min ABV~

==========

Rosado
(without Sub-Zone)
{same for Blanco}
~10.5% min ABV~
11% min ABV for Reserva+

Rosado Alta/Alavesa
~10.5% min ABV~

Rosado Baja
~11% min ABV~

==========

Tinto
(without Sub-Zone)
~11.5% min ABV~
12% min ABV for Reserva+

Tinto Alto/Alavesa
~11.5% min ABV~

Tinto Baja
~12% min ABV~

Question 14

Soil composition of

Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa

Answer 14

High proportion of

Calcareous Clay

Question 15

Soil composition of

Rioja Baja

Answer 15

Mainly

Alluvial soils & Ferrous Clay

Question 16

Allowed vine training systems for Rioja

Answer 16

Cordon

“En Vaso”
(bush vines)

“Vara y Pulgar”
(stick & thumb)
{not represented in attached image}

Double Guyot
may be used for all white varieties except:
- Viura
- Malvasía
- Garnacha Blanco

(single or double)

Question 17

What are the planting density

requirements of Rioja?

Answer 17

minimum:
2,850 vines per hectare

maximum:
10,000 vines per hectare

Question 18

What are the harvest yields of Rioja?

Answer 18

White Grapes:
9,000 kg/ha (vineyard)

Red Grapes:
6,500 kg/ha (vineyard)

==========

Press Yield:
70 liters/100 kg
(white or red)

Question 19

May chaptilization be used in Rioja?

Answer 19

No!

It is illegal.

Question 20

What is the ABRA?

Answer 20

Asociación de Bodegas de Rioja Alavesa

Since its inception in 1990, ABRA defends the interests of the wineries of the Rioja Alavesa.

Represents 125 producers in Rioja Alavesa.

Question 21

What is the Maximum amount of

Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
and Verdejo

allowed in Rioja Blanco?

Answer 21

49% Max combined

of these three grapes

Question 22

What is the minimum amount of red grapes required for Rioja Rosado?

Answer 22

25% minimum

of red grapes must be used
for Rosado wines here.

Question 23

Name five (5) classic Rioja producers

Bonus Points:
Name the village each is located within

Answer 23

HARO

• *Lopez de Heredia**
• (Tondonia - Bosconia - Cubillo)*

CVNE
(Imperial)
{although Contino is more modern…}

• *La Rioja Alta**
• (Viña Ardanza - Viña Alberdi - 904 - 890)*

CENICERO
(between Haro & Logroño)

• *Bodegas Riojanas**
• (Monte Real - Gran Albina)*
• *Marques de Riscal**
• (wines…)*

LOGROÑO

• *Marques de Murrieta**
• (Castillo Ygay)*

Question 24

Name three (3) modern style Rioja producers

Answer 24

Artadi

Finca Allende

Luis Cañas

• *Contino**
• (made by classic producer CVNE)*

Source: Tim Atkin

http://www.timatkin.com/articles?797

Question 25

Name three (3) producer from

Rioja Alavesa

Answer 25

• *Bodegas Ostatu**
• (modern styled producer)*
• *Fernando Remírez de Ganuza**
• (modern styled producer)*
• *Luis Cañas**
• (modern styled producer)*
• *Remelluri**
• (terroir driven producer)*

Question 26

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Blanco Crianza?

Answer 26

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

==========

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 27

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Rosado Crianza?

Answer 27

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

==========

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 28

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Tinto Crianza?

Answer 28

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

==========

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 29

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Blanco Reserva?

Answer 29

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

==========

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 30

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Rosado Reserva?

Answer 30

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

==========

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 31

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Tinto Reserva?

Answer 31

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

==========

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 32

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Blanco Gran Reserva?

Answer 32

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

==========

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Question 33

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Rosado Gran Reserva?

Answer 33

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

==========

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Question 34

What are the aging requirements for

Rioja DOCa Tinto Gran Reserva?

Answer 34

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

==========

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Question 35

What are the aging requirements of

all Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva in

Rioja DOCa?

Answer 35

Crianza Blanco - Crianza Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Reserva)

Crianza Tinto
*2 years min aging
**12 months min in Oak

Reserva Blanco - Reserva Rosado
*2 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak
(these are the same as Crianza)

Reserva Tinto
*3 years min aging
*12 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Blanco - Gran Reserva Rosado
*4 years min aging
**6 months min in Oak

Gran Reserva Tinto
(*5 years min aging)
**24 months min in Oak
**36 months min in Bottle

Question 36

Which sub-zone of Rioja

is actually in Basque country?

Answer 36

Rioja Alavesa