Treat yourself to memorable tasting evenings in the company of the best drinks. Trust products that have already won the favor of a multi-million audience of connoisseurs of exquisite tastes and memorable aromas.

To your attention, Rioja wine, which appeared on the international scene not so long ago, but has already managed to gain a confident position.

This is a Spanish wine with its unshakable charisma, which is difficult to confuse with any other product. Such drinks are enjoyed both during independent tasting and in the company of invited guests.

Wine Rioja - Spain in all its unforgettable glory. The reason for such a high rating for these products is nothing more than a recreated microclimate, in which more than 64 thousand hectares of grapes grow per year.

Simple young, exclusive complex and rich aged products are created here, capable of impressing every taster with their multifaceted nature. The red wines of the region are based on the grape varieties Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Carignan.

At the same time, the most interesting representatives of the region are aged in American or French oak barrels. It is also not uncommon to find blends of wines that have been aged in different barrels.

Color

The color of the drink is based on red and a large number of its shades, from pale cherry to purple and burgundy.

Aroma

At the heart of aromatic bouquets, berry color is most often traced, decorated with nuances of flowers, spices and fruits.

Taste

The gastronomic base is distinguished by the richness of combinations, which is also dominated by fruit and berry undertones, complemented by spices.

Did you know? Today, the area on which the vineyards in Spain are located reaches 1 million hectares.

How to choose an original drink

The process of choosing alcohol today is closely associated with risk. The number of fakes on the market is growing rapidly, which is why no one is immune from acquiring a fake.

At the same time, it should be noted that the Spanish wine Rioja, due to its popularity, has long been the object of attention of counterfeiters, and, accordingly, its choice cannot be treated negligently. In the event that you do not want to make a mistake when buying a bottle of red dry, be sure to pay attention to:

• Tara. Each manufacturer strives to make its product recognizable and authentic, which is why alcohol is supplied in original bottles. That is, before buying a drink of a brand you like, be sure to familiarize yourself with how the branded packaging looks like. To do this, it is enough to visit the expanses of a specialized interactive representative office of a particular company.
• Consistency. In aged Rioja, you will never encounter sediment or haze. These are clean and transparent drinks with an expressive base.
• Registration. Using modern bottling lines, manufacturers have achieved high quality indicators in terms of design, which is why you will not find glass chips, damaged caps or glue drips on branded bottles today.
• excise tax. Excise stamps must be present on foreign alcoholic products. This element of protection may be absent only when alcohol is sold in a free trade zone.
• Place of purchase. You should not look for premium assemblages in stalls and local grocery stores. Trust specialized alcohol boutiques, where they can provide you with the proper quality certificates for the products offered.

How to serve

The first impressions of acquaintance with alcohol directly depend on the method of serving. It is for this reason that experienced sommeliers and tasters recommend relying on the classic canons of serving drinks when uncorking Spanish Rioja wine.

Pour these wines into tall glasses with a thin leg of transparent glass. With these glasses, you can take a closer look at the unique color palette that is inherent in the product, as well as explore its multi-layered aroma.

Be sure to pay attention to temperature indicators. Spanish red wines are best chilled to 16-18 degrees before serving. So they acquire a more balanced aroma and delicate taste.

What products are combined with

To get the most vivid and correct impressions from the store or, be sure to take care of the responsible organization of gastronomic accompaniment.

Rioja red wines are perfect for meat dishes, cold cuts, vegetables, fruits and not very sweet desserts. Experienced tasters recommend using semi-hard cheeses.

Other uses

So that the tasting does not seem like a boring pastime to you, complement it with original cocktails based on purchased alcohol.

The most interesting mix recipes, which will show all the advantages of Spanish drinks from a completely different side, are Grape Rush, Burgundy, Dubonnet, Amontillado, Fiery, Royal Purple and Lillet.

Did you know? According to 2011 data, Spain ranked third in wine production in the world. She followed immediately behind Italy and France.

What are the types of this drink

Just like wines, Spanish products from the Rioja region are renowned for their diversity. Thus, visiting the store for a bottle of this Spanish drink, be prepared to get acquainted with an impressive array of alcoholic products. The most interesting representatives of the sunny region of Spain include:

• Herederos del Marques de Riscal Vina Collada Rioja DOC. Dry red wine Rioja with expressive cherry tint and purple tints. Demonstrates a combination of strawberry and cherry undertones in the aroma. At the same time, the taste pleases with harmony between savory, mint and pepper.
• Bodegas Olarra Ondarre Graciano Rioja DOC. A black-purple drink with a structured taste dominated by undertones of fruits, vanilla and spices. The aromatic balance is based on a floral-fruity color with noticeable anise, mint and coffee notes.
• Garcia Carrion Antano Crianza Rioja DOC. Dry red wine Rioja with a prominent ruby ​​color. In gastronomic indicators, a fruity flavor emerges, and in terms of smells, the dominant role is assigned to grapes and spices.
• Bodegas Olarra Cerro Anon Gran Reserva Rioja DOC. The drink pleases with a rich red color with pleasant ruby ​​reflections. Its taste ambitions are based on a combination of cherry, coffee, licorice and cedar undertones, while spice and smoke motifs can be traced in the aroma.

History reference

All Rioja wines are produced in the province of La Rioja, which in 1980 was named after the river el Rio Oja. Previously, this region was called Logroño. In turn, we note that it is thanks to this region that Spanish wine producers are talked about as one of the best in the world.

The wines of this region were the first in 1991 to receive the DOC category. A distinctive feature of the area is the complex geography and variety of soils. In fact, grapes grow here, which, in terms of aromatic and taste indicators, has no analogues.

Did you know? The wine recognition champion is Richard Zhulin, who in 2003 was able to smell 43 out of 50 drinks.

Traditional Spain in every sip

If you are looking for something extraordinary and unique in terms of tasting features, then you will not be able to pass by the wines from the Rioja region. These are original delicate products with an expressive, memorable nature, in each sip of which a symbolic share of the winemakers' skill is hidden.

Such products are designed to give true pleasure both in independent and in company tastings. At the same time, they demonstrate versatility, allowing you to create non-trivial cocktails.

Visit the nearest alcohol store in your city today to purchase one of the best wine assemblages that you could ever taste in your life.

D.O.K. Rioja

Undoubtedly, Rioja is the most famous wine region in Spain; moreover, for many people around the world, the word "Rioja" is synonymous with Spanish wine as such. This is recognized by the Spaniards themselves: despite the fact that the country produces many excellent original wines, only the Rioja region was awarded in 1991 the status of DOC (Denominacion de Origen Calificada), the highest category according to the classification adopted in Spain. Literally, it means "Deserved Designation of Origin".

History

As in many other parts of Europe, the first mass planting of grapes in the territory of Rioja is the merit of the Romans. They also taught the locals the art of winemaking. The Romans exported the wines of Rioja to the capital of the empire. During the Middle Ages, monasteries, of which there were many in Rioja, acquire a particularly important role in the development of local winemaking. The monks, trying to improve the quality of wines, were able to make them popular and significant for the region as a whole. The first official document designed to protect local winemakers and guarantee consumers the quality of their products dates back to 1650. However, the wines of Rioja at that time were, despite all efforts, practically unknown outside their homeland.

World fame came to the wines of Rioja in the middle of the 19th century, and the phylloxera epidemic that swept the vineyards of France served as an incentive for this. Bordeaux winemakers were forced to look for alternative sources of resources. And in 1867 Rioja caught their attention. It is curious, by the way, that until that time most of the wines produced here were white; Bordeaux just proved that the red wines of Rioja can be truly excellent. They are beginning to be actively exported to France - a fact that previously could only be dreamed of. And in Rioja, a real wine "boom" begins. Rioja soon became one of the most promising and popular wine regions in the world. The phylloxera that came here later, of course, caused serious damage: in Rioja, about 70% of all vineyards were destroyed. But the name had already been “made”, there was no shortage of financial injections, as well as a lack of interest in Rioja among consumers (both in Spain itself and abroad, including in France). The region has not lost its positions.

In 1902, a Royal Decree was issued defining the "origin" of Rioja wines. Then, in 1926, a Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador) was created here, designed to control the quality of products and protect them from all sorts of falsifications. It became the first body of its kind in Spain. However, it took many years before the Regulatory Council acquired official status: this happened in 1953. In the 1970s, another “revolution” took place here. As you know, in Francoist Spain, winemaking as a whole was going through hard times. Rioja was affected to a lesser extent, but, nevertheless ... In the 70s, the region was able to reach a new level. An extensive influx of investments ensured the modernization of production; the improvement in the quality of local wines has provoked a significant increase in interest in them around the world. The export of Rioja wines increased - and the region rightfully became the most famous among the wine-growing regions of Spain. In 1991, Rioja (again, the first among other regions) received the right to an exclusive status - DOC (or DOCa) - denominacion de origen calificada. As you know, other Spanish "wine" appellations controlled by origin are abbreviated DO. In the case of Rioja, such a decision was caused by the desire to emphasize the special position of the wine-growing region and give consumers an additional guarantee of quality.

Region features

Rioja is a relatively small region located in northern Spain and bordered by Castile-Leon, Aragon, Navarre and the Basque Country. At the same time, most of its area is located, in fact, on the territory of the autonomous region of La Rioja, but a number of vineyards fall on neighboring Navarre and the Basque Country. The northern border of Rioja is defined by the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range, the southern border by the Sierra de la Demanda. At the same time, the region itself is located in the valley of the Ebro River; it is also crossed by seven of its tributaries (from the name of one of them - Oja - the name "Rioja" came from), forming various secondary valleys, protected from cold winds, in which vineyards are located. In general, their area in Rioja today is about 59 thousand hectares.

It is not worth giving any unambiguous description of the soil and climatic conditions of the whole of Rioja: three zones are distinguished here, each of which has its own characteristics. These are Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa.

The northernmost zone is the Rioja Alta; the area of ​​vineyards here is the largest (almost 25 thousand hectares). Rioja Alta is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean: summers are hot, there is little rainfall, but frosts occur in early spring. The soils are varied - limestone and clay are found here with the same frequency; there are also quite large alluvial areas. The wines produced in this area - powerful, full-bodied, with high acidity and medium alcohol content - have the greatest aging potential.

Rioja Alavesa is the smallest zone (a little more than 12 thousand hectares are given for vineyards); it is located on the northern bank of the Ebro River and, as it were, wedged into the Rioja Alta zone. The climate here is closer to the Mediterranean type (warmer than in Rioja Alta), the soils are predominantly calcareous. Both white and red wines born in Rioja Alavesa have an unusually fresh, clean and bright aroma. They are more often consumed young, but these wines are of excellent quality.

And finally, Rioja Baja - this zone occupies the southeastern part of the region. The climate here is Mediterranean, rather dry, subject to warm winds; temperature fluctuations and frosts are almost excluded. Soils are mostly alluvial. The area of ​​vineyards in this zone is slightly less than 21 thousand hectares. The wines produced here are very extractive, have a pronounced fruity aroma and are characterized by a high alcohol content.

Grape varieties and wines

Almost all vineyards in Rioja are very small - from 0.1 to 2 hectares. Those whose area is estimated in tens of hectares are already a rarity. So, for example, in the region there are only 10 plots with an area exceeding 30 hectares; while there is not one more than 100 hectares.

The pride of Spanish winemaking - the red variety Tempranillo - is the main one in Rioja. It has such a characteristic and strong berry aroma that wines made from it are almost impossible to confuse with any other. Tempranillo gives the wine a bright color and is characterized by relatively low acidity; at the same time, it is not too rich in tannins, which, however, is compensated by blending with other varieties. Wines made from these grapes are capable of long aging. Also of great importance in the region, especially in Rioja Baja, is Garnacha Tinta (in France this variety is called Grenache, or Grenache Noir). It is included in almost all blends. Garnacha Tinta gives the wine fullness and strength; it is often used in blends with Tempranillo. Also a frequent component of mixtures is the Graciano variety, which gives the wine freshness and finesse. The variety Mazuelo, also known as Carignan, imparts tannins and acidity to the drink. Three of the white varieties are cultivated in Rioja. The main one is Viura, known in other countries under the name Macabeo. It has been cultivated in Spain since time immemorial and it is believed that it is in Rioja that its qualities are fully revealed. This variety gives wines light and lively, characterized by high acidity. It is often blended with the very fragrant variety Malvasia, which gives the wine excellent aging potential. And finally, Garnacha Blanca (or Grenache Blanc, as it is called in France), produces wines of good quality, with a high alcohol content.

Under the Rioja DOC, dry wines are produced - red, white and rosé. Reds predominate (the production of whites and pinks is much less significant) - brightly colored, with a strong and fresh aroma. As a rule, their blend is dominated by Tempranillo. Rioja rosés also have a beautiful bright color and a pronounced bouquet (in the case of them, the Garnacha Tinta variety plays the most important role). White - graceful wines of pale straw color with greenish reflections, are created, respectively, on the basis of the Viura variety.

One of the main factors determining the quality of wine in Rioja has always been its aging. The wines age in 225 liter oak barrels for varying periods of time, gaining in complexity and elegance. Depending on the aging period, the type of wine is determined.

Young Rioja wines are either not aged in oak barrels at all, or they are subjected to extremely short aging.

Crianza means aging in oak for at least 12 months; they go on sale in the third year after the harvest.

Reserva red wines must be aged for at least three years, of which at least one year in oak barrels.

White and rosé wines of this type are aged for six months in barrels and are sold in the third year after harvest.

And finally, the gran reserva wines - the real "stars" of Rioja, produced in the best years - age at least two years in barrels and three in bottles.

See the wines we offer from the Rioja region at.

Rioja is one of the wine regions of Spain, to which this country owes its fame and high position in the ranking of wine producing countries. The region takes its name from the river el Rio Oja, a tributary of the Ebro. This is the first region in Spain to receive the DOC (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) category.

Grapes for DOC wines are produced not only in Rioja, but also in Navarre. What distinguishes Rioja from other wine regions in Spain is its wide variety of soils and complex geography, thanks to which a wide variety of wines are produced here.

The Cantabrian mountains in the northwest protect the vineyards from the wet and cold winds of the Atlantic. Temperature conditions vary greatly throughout the region.

Wine range

The diversity of the microclimate is reflected in Rioja's wine palette, from simple young wines to complex and full-bodied wines that can age for decades. The region specializes in Tempranillo grapes, which do best in clay-lime soils.

Most of the wines are a blend of tempranillo and garnacha, the latter variety is added to give special shades of aroma and taste. Garnacha is also used for single rosé wines (Rosado). In addition, winemakers use Carignan, Graciano, Cabernet Sauvignon for red wines.

The best Rioja reds are aged in new American oak barrels, although some winemakers are experimenting with combining French and American oak aging.

Wine classification

Rioja wines are classified according to the degree of aging in oak and bottle:

• Joven- young wines, sold the next year after the year of harvest;
• Rioja Crianza– aged for at least a year in oak barrels, for a total of at least 2 years.
• Rioja Reserva– aged for at least 1 year in barrels and at least 2 years in bottles;
• Gran Reserva– aged for at least 2 years in oak barrels and 3 in bottles.

Rioja also produces a small amount of white wines based on Viura (Macabeo) and Malvasia grapes.

Wines of Rioja - price in WineStyle

Popular Spanish wines from Rioja in WineStyle stores can be bought at a price of 464 rubles. for a standard bottle of 0.75 liters. This section presents mainly red wines, which is typical for Rioja.

The schedule of bus routes can be found at stations, travel agencies, in the windows of cafes and shops near the station. On the yellow-green shields at the stops there are maps of bus lines around the city. Night bus routes are indicated in blue, routes in the city center are indicated in red. During the tourist season, buses run every hour.

Spain has a well-developed network of intercity bus routes, which is fast, reliable, inexpensive and convenient. The buses are modern, an example can be seen in the photo on the left.

Check the schedule of international and intercity bus routes on the websites of travel companies and carrier companies.

The movement is calculated as follows: landing - 2 euros, each kilometer - 1 euro in the daytime and 1.2 euros - from 22:00 to 6:00. Carriage of luggage - 1 euro. On holidays and weekends, the rate increases. Payment in official taxis is strictly according to the meter.

Bicycles are often rented. If you are over 16, you can also take a motorcycle. Convenient, economical.

Extend, extend, wine pleasure! (how to plan time)

If you do not take into account the time for flights, transfers, movement around the towns of Rioja (and this is about 5-6 hours), then it will take at least a day to visit La Rioja. We advise you to purchase an excursion for 5-7 days to the main attractions of Spain, including a visit to the grape paradise.

After tasting Spanish wine masterpieces, you will definitely want to come back to try a few more varieties of this drink of the gods.

Rioja - the path to excellence and worldwide fame (figures, facts and history)

La Rioja is the smallest region of Spain with an area of ​​about 5 thousand square meters. km, located in the north of the country, in the valley of the Ebro River. The name of the region comes from the Oja River, a tributary of the Ebro (in Spanish it is spelled Río Oja). Until 1980, the area was called Logroño. Two years later, La Rioja receives the status of an autonomous province.

Rioja is sheltered from the north by the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range, from the south by the Sierra de la Demanda. Seven beautiful valleys (one of them in the photo on the right), crossed by small rivers, are planted with vineyards. For grapes, Rioja is the best place: mountains protect from winds, rivers - from frost.

The centuries-old history of the region is famous not only for historical events, architectural monuments, but also for the development of winemaking, bringing it to perfection and world fame.

Thanks to the ancient Romans, vineyards appear on the land of Rioja. The Romans teach the locals the art of growing grapes. The Kingdom of the Goths replaces the Romans in the administration of the region. They are replaced in the 8th century by the Arabs, who are survived from their territory by the Spanish rulers Fernando I and Alfonso V.

In the Middle Ages, Rioja becomes the subject of disputes between Aragon and Castile. An important role in the enlightenment of Rioja was played by the Way of St. James passing through the region (pilgrimage route in). Like “mushrooms after the rain”, monasteries grow along this path, which have become cultural and educational centers for the population. It is in them that the first texts in Spanish appear.

Today I will talk a little about the most famous wine in Spain - Rioja (rioja). Spanish wines have been neglected on our site so far, we will try to correct this mistake. If France - the most famous "wine" country, is the undisputed leader in the production of wines, then Spain is perhaps in third place. Although, in terms of vineyard area, it is the leader.

Rioja - the famous wine of Spain

Rioja wine got its name from a small autonomous region - Rioja, located in northern Spain. Winemaking in this region originated during the reign of the Romans and is more than two thousand years old. In Bordeaux, in those days, grapes were not yet cultivated. On the other hand, the Rioja that we know arose precisely under the influence of the French. In the middle of the 19th century, when phylloxera affected most of the vineyards in France, winemakers began to import vines from other regions of Europe. Then they noted that Rioja resembles Bordeaux in many climatic characteristics. The Spaniards, in turn, paid due attention to the rich experience of the French and adopted the method of aging wines in barrels. In accordance with the new technology, since then some Rioja wines have been aged in oak barrels with a capacity of 225 liters.

Another significant date in the history of Rioja winemaking can be called 1991, when this region of Spain was the first to receive the highest quality status DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada). You can read a little about the classification of various wines in the article "".

World famous wine began to acquire in the seventies of the last century. In 1975, after the death of Franco, Juan Carlos became king of Spain - then many democratic changes took place in the country. A significant amount of investment was invested in winemaking, the export of wine to European countries began to be actively promoted. Today, rioja is the most famous and popular wine in Spain.

Wine can only be called Rioja if produced in one of three regions: Rioja Alta (Alta - northwestern region), Rioja Baja (Baja - southeastern region) and Rioja Alavesa (Alavesa - part of the Basque country).

Rioja region

Wine sub-regions of Rioja

Rioja Alta - is considered the best sub-region for winemaking with a humid and cool Atlantic climate and calcareous clay soils.

Rioja Baja - in this subrenion, the climate is Mediterranean, quite dry and hot.

Rioja Alavesa - this sub-region is characterized by an Atlantic climate, but with a significant influence of dry, Mediterranean.

Rioja wine can be either red or white, but red wines are the most famous. Four grape varieties can be used to produce red wine: Tempranillo (Tempranillo), Garnacha tinta (Grancha Tinta), Mazuelo (Mazuelo) and Graciano (Graciano). Tempranillo - is the main variety of red wines and often makes up about 75% in a blend. This variety is the pride of winemakers in Spain.

For the production of white wine, the following grape varieties are used: Viura (Viura), Malvasía (Malvasia) and Garnacha blanca (Garnacha Blanca). In the use of grape varieties for the production of Rioja, there has recently been a slight change - the DOCA council in 2007 allowed the use of other varieties grown in the region: Maturana tinta, Maturana Blanca (Maturana red and white), Tempranillo blanco (Tempranillo white) and Turruntés (Turruntes) .

Sometimes there is also a pink rioja.

As already mentioned, now most of the wines in the region are aged in oak barrels of the traditionally unchanged volume - 225 liters. The aging period varies and reaches up to three years, after which the wine matures in the bottle from several months to several years.

Joven is a young rioja, from the current year's harvest. As a rule, such wine is not kept in barrels, or kept for a short time.

Crianza (kriansa) - the total aging period of this category of wine is at least two years, while the wine spends at least a year in the barrel. White wines in this category are aged in barrel for at least six months.

Reserva (riserva) - these wines in "oak" are aged for about as long as "Crianza", but the total aging period must be at least three years.

Gran Reserva (Gran Riserva) - as you might guess, this is the highest category. Red wines are aged for a total of at least five years. At the same time, the exposure in the barrel must be at least two years. For white wines, the total aging period is at least four years; in a barrel for at least six months.

Rioja riserva 2005

Label on the back

Rioja riserva 2008 with the euphonious name for the Russian ear "Bukhanda"
(by the way, excellent wine)

Young red wine has a rich ruby ​​color and a balanced taste. The bouquet is simple, with a bright fruity aroma. White young wines - pale golden color, have a fresh aroma of apple and citrus. These wines cannot be stored for a long time - 5 years is already the limit for them. What is the best way to drink them? - like most other wines, reds go well with simple meat dishes, and whites go well with fish dishes and seafood. Fatty and spicy snacks will not work - young wine will not cope with them, the taste should not be too pronounced so as not to clog the aroma of the wine. Best served slightly chilled. The fortress is usually 12-13% vol.

Aged Rioja has a more complex and at the same time more refined and harmonious bouquet. You can feel pronounced notes of berries and vanilla with hints of spices, smoke, sometimes truffles. Aging in oak barrels provides full flavor, powerful and rich in tannins. The color of this wine is very pleasant - ruby, quite thick and, as some say - with an oily sheen. The fortress can reach 14.5% vol. The aging potential of aged wines is greater and proportional to their category. Wines of the Gran Reserva category, as a rule, reach their peak of development after 6-10 years, and can be successfully stored for 20-30 years or more. This wine is best drunk at room temperature. You can give the wine a little "breathe" - pour it into a decanter or just leave the bottle open for 30 minutes. Aged red wines are great with meat dishes - they are good with steak and shish kebab and stewed lamb. They also go well with “strong” cheeses, for example, Roquefort.

To be honest, I didn’t drink young Rioja, but Riserva and Gran Riserva are good and I really like it! Prices, of course, for such wines are high, but they are worth it. Our prices for wine are very high - this is not a secret for anyone. A decent rioja can be bought in the region of a thousand rubles. Gran Riserva will cost at least 3-4 thousand rubles.

Of the most famous producers, it is worth mentioning Marques de Riscal (Marquis de Riscal) - one of the oldest bodegas (wineries) in Spain. This company is known for its red wines.

Very good years for red rioja are the trio of 1994, 1995 and 1996, but they are very expensive, and it is difficult to get such a wine. Of the later ones, excellent harvests of 2001, 2004 and 2005, harvests of 2008 and 2009 are also very promising.

If you happen to travel in these parts, it will be interesting to visit the celebration of St. Peter's Day, which is held in the city of Haro (Haro) on June 29th. The holiday begins with the start of a procession led by the mayor of the city. Everyone dressed in white and light and tied red scarves. Everyone is armed with a jug, bottle, barrel or any other container of wine. The procession passes through the whole city to the rocks of Bilibio - mass is served there, and after it the fun begins. Everyone starts pouring wine on each other until they are soaked to the skin and turn purple. The best “weapon” is the classic wineskin with wine, which gives a thin stream that hits several meters.
Today we finish the story about the famous Spanish wine Rioja.