Spanish Aging Requirements

Question 1

What are the aging requirements for Spanish Gran Reserva Blanco/Rosado? (This is the same for Spain, Rioja, Rueda)

Answer 1

All are the same!

48 total months aging with 6 in oak.

Question 2

What are the aging requirements for all Blanco/Rosado wines from Spain? Which is the anomaly?

Answer 2

Spain 18 months- 6 in oak
Rueda 18 months- 6 in oak
Ribera 18 months- 6 in oak (rose only)
RIOJA 24 months- 6 in oak

Question 3

What are the aging requirements for Crianza Tinto wines from Spain? Which regions are different?

Answer 3

All age for 24 months, Rioja and Rivera require longer oak aging.

Ribera del Duero
Rioja - 24 months 12 in oak

Spain
Rueda - 24 months 6 in oak

Question 4

What are the aging requirements for Reserva wines in general Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Rueda?

Answer 4

They are all the same- except RIOJA Tinto

Blanco/Rosado- 24 months 6 in oak
Tinto 36 months- 12 in oak
Rioja Tinto 36 moths- 12 oak, 6 in bottle

Question 5

Which Reserva Tinto out of the following has different requirements: Rioja, Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Spain?

Answer 5

Rioja is the only one that requires 6 months of bottle aging out of 36 months aging with 12 in oak.

Question 6

How do the regions of Rueda, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Spain all differ for Tinto Gran Reserva aging?

Answer 6

All require 60 months total aging.

Ribera and Rueda are both 24 m barrel 36 m bottle
Rioja is 24 m barrel and 24 m bottle
Spain is 18 in barrel and no bottle time.

Question 7

A Crianza Rose from Spain, Rueda or Ribera del Duero must be aged for how long, with how long in oak?

Answer 7

18 months total, with 6 in oak. All Spanish regions require 6 months in oak for Crianza blanco/rosado, however Rioja requires 24 months aging total and not 18.

Question 8

Compare the aging of Rioja Blanco Crianza and Rioja Blanco Reserva?

Answer 8

They are the exact same- 24 months, 6 in oak.