D.O.C. Rioja (Qualified)
Get to know the wines produced in this magnificent aera. Fresh wines with a balanced and excellent bouquet. They won’t disappoint you!
The Denomination of origin Rioja is a Qualified Designation of Origin with distinguished wines produced in certain areas of the autonomous communities of Castilla y Leon, La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country. Because of the landscape and climatic diversity, there are three production subzones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa in which wines are originated with different characteristics. The average annual production of wine in La Rioja is 250 million liters.
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The technical development achieved by the Riojan Wine Industry is one of the keys to the high quality, prestige and uniqueness of Riojan wines.
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GRAPESThis DO counts with a great number of authorized grapes. Among the reds: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano,Mazuelo and between the whites: Viura, Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca |
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Mediterranean wine culture was, in the Middle Ages, closely linked to the monastic life, as the major promoters were the monks.
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HISTORYThe cultivation of the vine reaches Rioja through the Romans, the Phoenicians and the early Celtiberians. The oldest preserved document that refers to the existence of vines in La Rioja, dates from 873. |
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The Riojan area is no exception and is proud that Gonzalo de Berceo, the first poet who wrote in Romance languages, mentioned wine in the verses which he composed from his retreat in the monastery of Suso in San Millán de la Cogolla.
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DENOMINATION OF ORIGINDO Rioja is mainly known for its red wines, but also white and rosé wines are produced. Most of the wineries still use their own formulas to produce red wines from the combination of at least three varieties of grapes, the most important Tempranillo. This grape lends elegance to the wines, the concentration of aromas and complex flavors. It is because of this fact along with barrel aging, that give Riojan wines their own personality. |
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A privileged region for quality wine production
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LOCATIONSAlava, Burgos, Navarra and La Rioja with over two hundred areas devoted to wine production. |
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The Council Regulation of the DO Rioja and Navarra go through extent analysis and wine tastings of samples of wines from each vintage.
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VINTAGESThe Regulatory Board of the Denomination of Origin of La Rioja, after analyzing and tasting 4,061 harvest samples, have called the 2008 vintage "very good". It is the third vintage in a row with this rating. The regulatory board DOCa.Rioja presents each year in autumn the categories of Crianza Reserva and Gran Reserva. |
