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Rioja wine: a perfect blend of elegance and character
| 2009-12-08 By Marisa Casado Rioja wine, with its balanced, mellow, delicate flavours, was the first to benefit from the DOC [1] label in Spain. These vineyards are set on the slopes of the Ebro Valley, a privileged and protected winegrowing region. Rioja has become one of the most popular wines both in Spain and abroad and owes its well-deserved reputation to great versatility and perfect balance. The Rioja grape varieties have been appreciated for centuries. In the 12th century, King Sancho of Navarre legally recognised these wines whilst the poet Gonzalo de Berceo devoted some verses to them during his retreat at the Suso Monastery in San Millán de la Cogolla. However, the very first documentary reference concerning the protection of the quality of these wines dates back only as far as 1650. A privileged region The “Rioja” DOC production area is in northern Spain, on both sides of the Ebro. The 63,593 protected hectares of these vineyards are spread over the autonomous communities of La Rioja, the Basque Country and Navarre. The vines stretch for hundreds of kilometres in the form of tiered terraces reaching an altitude of 700 metres. Average annual production is between 300 and 380 million litres, 90% of which are used to make red wine and the remaining 10% white and rosé. La Rioja offers a favourable location for vine growing. This region, with its climatic influences from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, features a variety of soil type and the diversity and orientation of the vineyards help to produce a high quality wine. The “Rioja” DOC encompasses seven grape varieties. Tempranillo, the most well-known of the red varieties, covers nearly 75% of the winegrowing area. This early grape produces balanced wines with a sweet, fruity taste when young, which acquire a certain voluptuousness after ageing. The main white grape variety is Viura, yielding a fruity wine with a floral bouquet that is slightly more acidic than the reds. Types of wine The uniqueness of Rioja wines lies in their excellent capacity for ageing, a quality peculiar to vintage wines. Left to age in oak casks, Rioja changes completely, developing and maturing to reveal new colours and aromas. The wine finishes ageing in bottles, where it reaches its full potential. Rioja is labelled as belonging to one of the following four categories based on the ageing process used: Vino Joven: young wine elaborated in the year of the grape harvest, not aged in barrels, retaining its fresh and fruity characteristics. Vino de Crianza: wine aged in barrels for one year for red wines or six months for whites. Vino de Reserva: wine that has aged for three years (at least one year in a barrel and the rest in a bottle). Vino de Gran Reserva: wine from exceptional years that has spent at least two years in a barrel and three in a bottle. Vintage wines from historic years are kept in bottles for decades until they become real oenological gems. How to appreciate a good wine Here are a few simple tips for tasting a good Rioja and storing it properly: - Bottles must be kept lying flat so that the cork remains in contact with the liquid. - The wine must be stored in a cool and, preferably, relatively dark room, with no sudden changes of temperature. - Never shake a bottle of Rioja before serving. - Choose clear wine glasses to better appreciate the colour and aroma. Only fill to half capacity. - The ideal temperature for a red wine is around 18-19ºC. Whites and rosés should be served at 10-12ºC. Avoid sudden heating or cooling so as not to impair their properties. [1] Denominación de Origen Calificada, Spanish equivalent of AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) |
