|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|HOME | Red | White | Rose | Cava & Dessert Wine | Vintage Overview |Gift Boxes | | |
|
Rioja |
Region Information > Rioja
Rioja was the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status in 1925.
Rioja DOCa is known primarily for its reds though it also makes some whites and rosés. Most bodegas still use their own formulas for blending red wines with at least three grapes, the most important of which is Tempranillo, the noblest of the native Spanish vines. This grape gives the wines their elegance, concentration of aromas and complexity of flavours. It is this, as well as oak ageing, which gives the wines such personality and individuality.
The growing area for Rioja DOCa is located in the north of Spain, on both banks of the Ebro River. The DOCa's 62,000 hectares of vineyards lie in three different provinces around the high course of the Ebro River: La Rioja (43,210 hectares), Álava (12,792 hectares), and Navarra (5,991 hectares). The vineyards are planted in a valley which is 40 kilometres wide, with successive graded terraces that reach a maximum altitude of some 700 metres.
The Rioja's principal soils are ideal for quality viticulture; they are well balanced in structure (sand, limestone and clays), slightly alkaline, low in organic matter and have a moderate supply of water in the summer.
Sheltered to the north by the Sierra de Cantabria and to the south by the Sierra de la Demanda, the region's climate benefits from the convergence of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. These bring mild temperatures and an annual rainfall of over 400 litres per square metre, which create ideal conditions for the growth of grape vines.
Vine Varieties
Red: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo.
White: Viura, Malvasia and Garnacha blanca. |
|
FIND WINES BY REGIONS Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla La Mancha
FIND WINES BY COLOR |
