Spain ranks third in the world (after France and Italy) in wine production. Every year, the country supplies the market with more than thirty-four million hectoliters. And the vineyards of Spain have no equal in area. Under the vines allotted more than a million hectares of land. In Spain, as in all countries, there is an administrative division. But there is also a distinction between wine regions. And the most famous of them is Rioja. The wines of this region, as well as the Priorat province, are the only ones that deserve an honorable recognized qualification of origin. Therefore, if you see a bottle with the inscription DOCa Rioja or DOQ Priorat in the store, do not hesitate - these are drinks of the highest class. But in this article we will pay attention to only one wine-growing region of Spain - Rioja. Read about what sub-provinces it is divided into and what kinds of berries are grown there, read below.
Where is Rioja
The wines of this region are not famous for nothing. The climatic features of Rioja and its soil make the drink from the vine unique. The region itself is small, if not small. From the west and south, Castile-Leon borders on it. And from the north and east, Rioja adjoins the coastal regions: Navarra and the Basque Country. All the provinces of Spain in one way or another wine. But Rioja is famous far beyond the borders of his country. For many people, the name of this region means only one thing - a wonderful wine. What makes Rioja so popular?
First of all, its climate. In the north, it is sheltered from piercing winds from the Bay of Biscay by the Sierra Cantabria massif. And from the west and south, the Sierra de la Demanda ridge outlines it. The entire valley between the mountains is occupied by vineyards. Vines grow on unique soils. They are alluvial. There is both limestone and high-grade red clay. And numerous rivers and streams saturate the too dry air of the valleys with moisture.
Subregions
The name of the province was given by the river (Spanish "Rio") of Okha. This is a tributary of the Ebro. Other rivers divide the region into seven valleys. Each of them has its own microclimate and unique soil. But the province is divided into three subregions. The first zone is Rioja Alta, which means “Upper”. This is the largest subregion. Vineyards occupy twenty-five thousand hectares here. In Upper Rioja, a breath of the Atlantic is felt. Summer is hot and arid, but frost occurs in early spring. On the north bank of the Ebro River is located Rioja Alaves. This is the smallest sub-region (with an area of vineyards of twelve thousand hectares). The climate here is closer to the Mediterranean. And finally, the Bach subregion - Lower Rioja. The wines produced here are characterized by a high alcohol content, are very extractive and have a delicate fruity aroma. The soils here are alluvial, and the climate is very warm, without sudden changes in temperature and frost. The area of vineyards is more than twenty thousand hectares.
History
Archaeological excavations have shown that in a province like Rioja, wines were produced even before the arrival of the ancient Romans. Although it is believed that the Iberians did not cultivate the vine. The ancient Romans exported wine from Rioja to the capital. Moreover, they preferred white varieties. For some reason, Moorish rule did not hinder winemaking in any way. In the Middle Ages, monks from numerous monasteries set to ennoble and select vines. However, wines from Rioja were almost unknown outside of Spain . As they say, misfortune helped.
In the sixties of the nineteenth century, the French regions suffered a terrible misfortune - phylloxera, destroying all the vines in such illustrious provinces as Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy. Winemakers, in order to fulfill their obligations to customers, began to look for other sources of raw materials. And they found them in Rioja. Since then, red varieties have been preferred in the Spanish region. It was they who at one time replaced Bordeaux wines.
Varieties of vines
In the cool sub-Atlantic climate where Rioja Alta is located, Tempranillo grows. This red grape variety is grown everywhere in Spain. However, only in Rioja does it acquire characteristic qualities that you cannot confuse with anything else. Tempranillo gives the wine a strong berry taste and rich ruby color. It has low acidity, but on the other hand, few tannins. Therefore, at the heart of all local blends is Tempranillo wine. Rioja Alta and Alaves are also characterized by red grapes such as Graciano and Masuelo. The white grape variety - “viura” is also grown here. In a province such as Rioja Baha, the recognized king is Garnacha Tinta. This red grape variety is nothing more than a French “noir grenade”. However, in the warm conditions of Lower Rioja, the berries get their new characteristic sound. Garnacha Tinta, like Tempranillo, is the basis for blends.
Technology
Spanish wine "Rioja" is a product of not only this or that kind of vine or the place where berries grow. Terroir is certainly important, as well as skillful blending. But no less important is the production technology. In the Rioja region, wine is first aged in barrels and then bottled for a long time. At the first stage of production, preference is given to local white as well as American oak. This wood gives the drink a light vanilla flavor. Oak barrels from France are no less popular now. Aging in bottles allows the wine to fully reveal its potential - a bouquet and taste.
The standard Rioja ripens in barrels for less than a year. If the word Crianza is indicated on the label, this means that the wort has been playing in oak containers for more than a year and the same amount has “calmed down” in the bottle. Reserva boasts even greater endurance. This wine has been in the barrel for two years, and half of this string is in a glass container. But "Gran Reserve" is especially appreciated. This wine is created in unique years, which are characterized by high productivity and a special taste of berries. Then the producers allow it to ripen in barrels for more than two years, and three more are kept in bottles. For white wines, there is a similar gradation. Only their aging time is almost half that of red ones.
Read the label
The names of the wines of the Rioja region for Russia say little to the average consumer. First of all, we should look for the coveted abbreviation DOC on the label. It stands for Denominacion de Origen Calificada - "control of recognized origin." This means that all the grapes for the drink were grown in Rioja. Next, we get information on exposure. You should know that Joven (young wine from last year’s harvest bottled without barrels) is not available in Rioja. The label should say “Criansa,” “Reserva,” or “Grand Reserve.” The color of the wine is visible without any inscriptions.
But still, the label should say “Tinto” (red), “Blanco” (white) or “Rosado” (pink). The following is information on the acidity of the wine. The dry is denoted by the word “Seco”, and the sweet is denoted by “Dulce”. Halftone is determined by the prefix semi. Cosecha means the year of the crop. The word "Bodega" means a winery. The status of the wine will only increase if the label says "Embolellado en origigen". This inscription indicates that the drink was bottled at the place of manufacture.
Terroir classification
The most ordinary wine in Spain is called Vino de Mesa. The region of origin is not indicated here. Higher up is the Wine de la Tierra, in other words, from a specific part of the country. The abbreviation DO takes the quality of the drink one more step. She points out that the berries for the drink were harvested in one wine region. It can be La Mancha, Navarra, Andalusia. But the abbreviation DOCa can only be wines of the Rioja region. And finally, Pago. Pago is a Spanish vineyard, and that’s it. The drink was given life by the vines that grow on special slopes and farms. Wine classification "Pago" corresponds to the French high status of "Grand Cru" in Burgundy. Based on this, many manufacturers insert the word pago in the name of the wine, hoping to spend inexperienced buyers. Labels in the highest Spanish category should indicate Vinos de Pagos Calificados.
Red wines
Once upon a time, the region was famous for its white wines. But the invasion of the phylloxera in the French province of Bordeaux has broken stable traditions. To sell, local farms switched to dark varieties. The visiting card of the Rioja region is dry red wine. And the basis for the drink is the king of the local pago - Tempranillo. It should be said that local wines are rarely monosortovye. More often grace and characteristic taste of the drink gives the blend. But in it, Tempranillo always plays the first violin. A classic example of such a blend is Antagno Rioja wine (dry or fortified). "Tempranillo" in it is not less than eighty-five percent. It is favorably shaded by “graciano” (ten) and “masuelo” (five percent). “Garnacha” (the same “grenache”, but with a Spanish temperament) and “maturana” are also very good.
White wines
Do not forget about the traditions in Rioja. Three varieties of vines with white berries continue to be cultivated here. The most popular and oldest is Viura. In other countries, this variety is known as "Macabeo." But he hails from Rioja and is said to have been cultivated here before the arrival of the Romans. "Viura" gives living and light, with a high acidity of the wine. In order to increase the potential for aging, the variety is blended with “malvasia”. And the “Garnacha Blanca”, woven into a bouquet of “Viura”, gives rise to the best white Rioja wines. By the way, they can be monosortovye. An example of this is the wine Marques de Murriet. It is one hundred percent composed of "Viura." The wine has a bright yellow color, enveloping the taste, which reads shades of honey and almonds, a fresh smell of fruit. In Rioja, they also use grades of “garnacha blanca”, “turrentes”, and even foreign “chardonnay” and “sauvignon”, albeit in small proportions.
Rosé wines
They have a beautiful saturated color. According to the rules of DOCa, in these "Rosado" at least twenty-five percent should be red wine "Rioja". If Tempranillo acts as the last, the drink turns out to be characteristic, full-bodied. “Garnacha Tinta” gives pink wine a rich bouquet and beautiful color. Such drinks are aged in barrels for about six months, and go on sale three years after the harvest. A typical example of rosé wines from Rioja is Finca Nueva. The drink has a raspberry hue. The bouquet contains aromas of cherries, strawberries and red berries. The wine is well balanced, with a pleasant acidity, delicate taste. A great addition to crab salads, pizza, duck meat.
Wine "Rioja": reviews
Gourmets are conquered by a perfectly balanced taste and rich aroma of drinks from this smallest province in Spain. The only thing that darkens the holiday is the price. More precisely, even an extra charge. Indeed, for example, a very worthy wine from Rioja “Banda Azul” (a blend of “Tempranillo”, “Garnachi” and “Mazulo”) costs about four and a half euros in Spain. And in Russia, a bottle of the same wine - about six hundred rubles. If you want to try how pure Tempranillo sounds, you should buy El Koto with a deer on the label. Another classic blend wine is Marquez de Cockeres. This is the “Chryance” of the 2008 harvest. The wine is perfect for Mediterranean dishes - jamon, paella. In Spain, a bottle costs eight euros, and in Russia a thousand rubles.
Unlike French and Italian wines
The climatic and soil characteristics of the region make it possible to grow ripe and juicy berries with a characteristic taste. Spanish wine "Rioja" has a rich color. It is full-bodied, with an indescribable aftertaste. One of the most elite wines is Rioja Alta 890 Gran Reserva. In Spain, it costs about seventy-five euros. Only gourmets drink it, and on big holidays.