Rioja

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With more than 600 wineries, 14,800 winegrowers, and centuries of history, Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region. Not only was it the first Spanish region to be awarded Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1925, but it was also the first to be elevated to the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, in 1991. Nearly 30 years later, there are still only two regions in Spain (out of 67) that have met the stringent standards for DOCa classification.

Rioja is most well known for its red wines, which are made primarily from the Tempranillo grape variety and aged in the region’s huge collection of oak barrels—a tradition tied to the long and winding history of Rioja itself. Many wineries are more than a century old, and quality winemaking techniques honed over generations have been passed down to today’s Rioja winemakers.

But while Rioja is known for producing legendary, benchmark wines, that isn’t all there is to this dynamic region. Rioja has always been ready to adapt to modern trends and techniques, harnessing its diversity of climate, soils, and grape varieties and experimenting with new winemaking practices to create a wide spectrum of ready-to-drink wines with excellent value. Red, white, and rosé wines can range from refreshing and fruity to serious and intricate, and winemakers are continuously experimenting with new styles and techniques. Thirst-quenching acidity and moderate alcohol also make these Rioja wines perfect with a variety of foods.

The many facets of Rioja wines include a broad swath of wineries, brands, styles, and labels. Luckily, consumers only need to turn the bottle to ensure that they are drinking an authentic Rioja wine. No matter what’s on the front of the bottle, the back label’s Rioja “trust” seal guarantees the quality that comes from turning to Rioja.

Geography

With vines planted on both sides of the Ebro River in north-central Spain, the region of Rioja stretches over 100 kilometers from Haro in the northwest to Alfamo in the southeast. Here, Atlantic and Mediterranean climates converge. Shielded by the Cantabrian mountains from northwesterly, rainy winds, the region enjoys mild temperatures and just over 400 millimeters of rainfall per year.

64,000 hectares of grapevines are planted on successive terraces, some reaching 2,600 feet above sea level, in a range of clay-limestone, clay-ferrous, and alluvial soils. This diversity of soils, elevations, and exposures creates Rioja’s wide range of high-quality wines.

History

As the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status and the first to be elevated to the stringent DOCa classification, Rioja is at the forefront of quality winemaking in Spain. But the region’s history of quality winemaking stretches long before the 20th century. Roman-era archaeological remains of wineries and wine presses indicate that viticulture has been present in Rioja for more than 2,000 years, and its importance was only cemented when the demand for wine increased after the Middle Ages.

In 1787, the Real Junta de Cosecheros, or Royal Board of Winegrowers, was established in order to promote grape-growing and improve wine quality in Rioja while simultaneously strengthening the trade for these wines in other markets. This link to outside markets distinctly influenced the style of Rioja wines in the late 1800s, when an influx of French merchants, unable to do business in their phylloxera-stricken country, landed in the region. Barrel aging—specifically in 225-liter barricas, typically made from American oak—became the norm, creating Rioja’s distinctly soft texture and distinct oak aromas.

In the years since, Rioja has continued to adapt to modern demands and techniques while maintaining its strong winemaking heritage. The 1970 vintage marked a new standard for both production and marketing in the region, giving Rioja the platform to become one of the world’s benchmark wine regions.

Key Regions

Rioja’s 210 square miles of land are divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (known as Rioja Baja until 2018). While all produce wines carrying Rioja’s unmistakable identity, each region is climatically distinct. Traditionally, winemakers blended components from all three regions to create complete wines that harnessed the best qualities of each sub-zone. Today, some modern winemakers are instead choosing to highlight the individual regions through terroir-specific Rioja wines.

Rioja Alta

Covering the westernmost area of the region, Rioja Alta benefits from an Atlantic-influenced climate. Most vineyards are located south of the Ebro River, planted on high (“alta”) terraces. While soils are varied, Tempranillo thrives in Rioja Alta’s high concentration of clay-limestone soils, tinged red from the presence of iron. Home to Rioja’s most famous villages and century-old wineries, Rioja Alta is also the center of the region’s tourism.

Rioja Alavesa

Bordered by the Cantabrian mountains to the north and the Ebro River to the south, the Atlantic-influenced Rioja Alavesa is known for its high elevations and cooler temperatures. Though the zone is small, it produces high-quality wines with bright acidity from clay-limestone soils.

Rioja Oriental

In eastern Rioja, Mediterranean influences and lower altitudes create the dry, warm climate of Rioja Oriental. Soils are more varied than they are in Rioja Alta or Alavesa, with more alluvial and ferrous clay components. This sub-region, where gentle northern winds promote healthy grapes, is an important source of ripe, abundant grapes, particularly Garnacha.

Key Grape Varieties

The grape varieties used to create Rioja’s wines have largely been selected over centuries, based on which varieties produce high quality wines in the region’s climate and soils. Though Rioja may be produced as a varietal wine, more often it is vinified as a blend of several grape varieties. These varieties, combined with the particularities of terroir within Rioja’s zone and individual vinification and aging decisions from the winemaker, contribute to Rioja’s diverse spectrum of red, white, and rosé wines.

Tempranillo

The most important red grape variety in Rioja and comprising over 75 percent of overall plantings, Tempranillo is intrinsic to the identity of Rioja wines. Its wines are exceptionally well-balanced, with smooth mouthfeel, lifting acidity, and persistent fruit flavors, and versatile, from fresh and easy-drinking to complex and age-worthy.

Garnacha

A natural complement to Tempranillo, this drought-resistant Spanish grape produces wines with lovely aromas and freshness in cool climates, which balances its full body and tendency towards high alcohol. It is also an important component in rosé Rioja wines.

Graciano

Native to Rioja, Graciano thrives in clay-limestone soils and cool climates. Plantings are increasing due to the grape’s resistance to mildew, excellent structure, and unique aroma.

Mazuelo

Known elsewhere as Carignan, Mazuelo has likely been grown in Rioja for centuries. Though it comprises a small portion of the region’s vines, the grape’s high acidity and tannic structure add longevity to Tempranillo-based reds.

Maturana Tinta

Intensely colored and high in acidity, this grape variety is unique to Rioja. Though it comprises a small proportion of plantings, it highlights the heritage and diversity of the region.

Viura

The most important white variety in Rioja, Viura (known as Macabeo elsewhere in Spain) produces fruity and floral wines with bright acidity. This excellent structure creates quite versatile wines, from vibrant, young wines to complex, aged ones.

Malvasía de Rioja

Distinct from the many other Malvasias found around the world, Malvasía de Rioja was once the most-planted white grape in Rioja. It produces excellent quality wines with intense aromas and rich texture.

Garnacha Blanca

Best grown in cool areas, Garnacha Blanca can produce fresh and easy-drinking white wines.

Tempranillo Blanco

Cultivated from a single vine mutation discovered in 1988, Tempranillo Blanco is only found in Rioja. It produces fruity and aromatic wines with mouthwatering acidity.

Other white grape varieties include: Turruntés, Verdejo, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Aging Classifications and Labeling

While Rioja’s identity is tied to the vineyard, winemaking and aging decisions have long been essential components of Rioja’s wide stylistic range. Red, white, and rosé wines may all range from fresh and easy-drinking to thought-provoking and age-worthy—hence why there is a Rioja appropriate for any occasion.

Since barrel aging was first introduced to the region, it has been clear that Rioja wines are capable of exceptional aging potential, whether in traditional American oak, more modern French oak, or a combination of the two. In fact, Rioja’s minimum aging requirements supersede the requirements set out for other Spanish wine regions, and over 65 percent of red Rioja wines are aged in barrel and bottle before release. Even within the spectrum of barrel-aged Rioja, wines may be born of differing ideologies: the subtler tones of muted fruit, dill, and cedar found in traditional Riojas, or the overt notes of dark, extracted fruit and vanilla found in modern Riojas.

Despite the historic, barrique-filled cellars of Rioja, many of the region’s wines—particularly whites and rosés—are vinified in stainless steel and bottled early at approachable price points, meant to be consumed young. All of these wines, from generico to gran reserva, will have the Rioja seal on the back of the bottle as a signal of both quality and authenticity. Regardless of whether a wine has aged for decades or months before bottling, the Rioja DOCa’s rigorous minimum aging regulations guarantee that every bottle is ready to drink when it is released.

Cosecha

Young wines with little to no barrel aging are often designated as cosecha and distinguished by freshness and primary fruit flavors. These wines are accessible and often affordable, making them excellent, everyday Rioja wines. Cosecha may also be used as a more flexible category for wines that do not follow standard winemaking or aging processes.

Crianza

Crianza wines are those in their third year of age, including a minimum of one year spent in oak barrels. White and rosé wines may spend a minimum of six months in barrel. These are often everyday wines with juicy fruit flavors and subtle oak notes.

Reserva

Specially selected red wines are aged for at least three years total to achieve reserva designation, with a minimum of one year in barrel and six months in bottle. White wines must spend at least two years aging, with six months in barrel. Reserva Riojas are often characterized by elegance, concentration, and complexity.

Gran Reserva

Only produced in the best vintages, gran reserva Riojas are some of the world’s most renowned wines. While many gran reservas far exceed minimum aging requirements, red wines must spend at least five years aging, with at least two in barrel and two in bottle. White wines must spend at least four years aging, with one year in barrel. Expect layers of long, persistent aromas and flavors in these remarkable wines. Currently, there are 104 projects under this new classification.

More recently, the Rioja Consejo has approved new wording on front and back labels in order to enrich the information communicated on Rioja labels. These labeling terms include Viñedo Singular, Viños de Municipio, and Viños de Zona.

Viñedo Singular

This geographical indication designates wines from certain vineyards or estates, each of which has an established history of producing exceptional wines. Viñedo Singular is directly linked to the terroir of each of these plots.

Viños de Municipio

Viños de Municipio wines are grown, vinified, aged, and bottles within a specific municipality in the region, which may appear on the label. Rioja has permitted wines to use the name of the town in which they are produced since 1999, but this new regulation will provide more visibility to this geographical indication.

Viños de Zona

Indicating which of Rioja’s three zones—Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta, or Rioja Oriental—a particular wine hails from, Viños de Zona have been permitted since 1998, but the Consejo recently updated regulations to improve visibility of this geographical indication.

What’s Happening in Rioja Today?

Rioja is a region where generations of tradition have influenced every bottle of Rioja wine produced today—but that doesn’t mean that today’s winemakers don’t continue to experiment and innovate. In 2017, the Rioja DOCa added a new category to allow for the production of white and rosé sparkling wines, called Espumosos de Calidad. The quality standards are stringent, requiring the traditional method of sparkling vinification, at least 15 months of aging before release (more for reserva and gran reserva wines), and low sugar levels (not exceeding brut).

Recently, there has also been a new focus on origin specificity within the Rioja region, with winemakers looking to highlight the unique qualities of a specific zone, village, or vineyard. While wineries have been permitted to label Rioja wines with a specific zone (Vinos de Zona) or village (Vinos de Municipio) for more than two decades, the DOCa updated this legislation in 2017 to allow these origins to be more visible on labels. At the same time, the Viñedo Singular classification was created, allowing producers to register and print single vineyard names on wine labels. Currently, there are 104 projects under this new classification.

The Rioja region has also placed significant investment in sustainability practices and organic wine production, with 61 certified organic vineyards and two biodynamic vineyards. One of the country’s most important research centers, the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, is located in Rioja, and producers are exploring different preventative measures, including crop cover, vineyard management changes, and alternative treatments.

Outside of the region, the Rioja Consejo Regulador has launched Rioja Wine Academy, which educates both trade and consumers about the region of Rioja and its wines. This new digital, bilingual education project consists of four courses: Rioja Wine Diploma, Diploma in Rioja Wine for Trade and Distribution, Diploma in Rioja Wine Tourism, and Rioja Wine Certified Educator. Anyone can register for these free courses on the Rioja Wine Academy website.

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