Rioja
Styles
Principal grape varieties
AlarijeAlbillo MayorChardonnayGarnacha BlancaGarnacha TintaGracianoMacabeo (Viura)Maturana BlancaMazuela (Carignan Noir)Merenzao (Trousseau Noir)Sauvignon BlancTempranilloTempranillo BlancoVerdejo
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Rioja Oriental: markedly Mediterranean climate, higher sunlight exposure and lower rainfall → higher alcohol and extract levels.
- The zone is classified as cool according to the Winkler heat summation index, with short growing seasons.
Human factors
- Winemaking activity has driven specialization in crianza-style aging, concentrating one of the highest densities of oak barrels in the world.
- DOCa Rioja is the oldest denominación de origen in Spain, established in 1925, with prior trademark protection. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Product characteristics
- Rioja Alta: moderate alcohol, high acidity and full body → wines well suited to barrel aging.
- Rioja Oriental: greater sunlight exposure, higher alcohol levels and richer extract, ideal for blending in crianza-style wines.
Terroir / wine link
- Calcáreo-arcilloso soils (northern zones, Alavesa/Alta) favor crianza aging; alluvial and clay-ferrous soils yield lighter-bodied wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the specification.
Sources
- National pliego de condiciones (PDF) — +1 varieties added
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A0117
- Official trade body site — DOCa Rioja