![]() ![]() Reliable producers include: Marques de Riscal, Bodegas Muga, La Rioja Alta, Marques de Caceres, Marques de Murrieta, Contino, Finca Allende, and Palacios Remondo. Reliable Producers: Despite one of the two regions qualified to receive DOCa status, the quality of wine is still quite inconsistency. La Rioja Alta is a better known producer who focuses on Rioja Reserves and Gran Reservas. Over 60% of the wine produced in Rioja are " Rioja Joven" and meant to be drunk young. It produces wine high in alcohol, fruity, and friendly. Garnacha is the same grape as Grenache grown in Southern France. Strawberry-scented and low in acidity, it blends well with other varieties. It is Spain's most widely planted variety and the country's premium grape. Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) are its two primary grapes that thrive in its limestone-rich soil and moderate climate environment. Rioja is the best known Spanish wine region. White must be aged for at least 4 years, with 6+ months in oak. Red wines must be at least 5 years old before release, with 2+ years in oak cask. Gran Riserva wines are produced only in the best years, with approval from teh local viticultural authority.Riserva white must be aged at least 2 years, of which 6+ months must be in oak cask. Riserva red wine must be aged at least 3 years, of which 1+ year must be in oak cask.Crianza white wines must be at least one year old. The red wine must be aged in oak barrel for 6 months and in bottle for 2 years before being sold to the public. It may or may not have spent time in cask before bottling. Vino Joven: A young wine that is bottled in the year after harvest.Look for the following terms on the wine label to assess the quality and complexity of the wine: There are ~55 DOs in Spain but only two - Rioja and Priorat - are prestigiously classified as DOCa.ĭO wine must go through a certain period of aging time. Denominazion de Origen Calificada (DOCa): The most prestigious category.Denominacion de Origen - Pago (DO Pago): A category created in 2003 to identify outstanding single estates outside the DO system. ![]() Denominacion de Origen (DO): Wine subjects to a minimum quality, under regional regulations on grape variety, yields per hectare, aging requirement, and vinification methods.Vino de la Tierra (VT): Like France's Vin de Pays, the wine is associated to a classified region.Wine made from blended grape varietals and regions. Vino de Mesa (Table Wine): Lowest, most basic table wine category.Similar to France's, Spain classifies wine into tiered quality systems: ![]() Interactive Spanish Wine Map: Click on the text for a specific region. For example, the massly planted Tempranillo is known as Ull de Llebre in Penedes, Tinto Fino or Tinta Del Pais in Rebera Del Duero, Tinta de Toro in Toro, and Cencibel in Valdepenas! Note there there are many local names for the same grape. Other varietals include Viura (Macabeo), Albarino, Verdejo, Airen, and Palomino and Pedro Ximenez. Grenache, planted widely in Southern France, is actually Spanish in origin. ![]() Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) are widely planted. However, due to harsh climate, old vine age, and past regulatory constraints, Spain lags behind France and Italy in yields and volume of wine produced. With 1,200,000 hectares, Spain has more land under vine than any other country in the world. ![]()
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