30th July 2020 | Cork Talk | 6 minute read
Rioja is one of the most loved and best known Spanish wine regions in the world. A brand in its own right, it has become synonymous with deep, rich and satisfying reds. However, even though the term ‘Rioja’ is a household name, there’s still so much more to discover about Spain’s most popular wine producing region.
We explore the three very distinct areas within Rioja that contribute to its unique identity – Rioja Oriental, Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa.
Formerly known as ‘Rioja Baja’, Oriental is the easternmost zone of Rioja and the warmest and driest, as its main climatic influence comes from the Mediterranean rather than the cooler Atlantic north. Altitude is less serious here too, and so the ripening season will often be hot and dry, resulting in healthy grapes with excellent ripeness. You can see this in the Dominio de Laertes, with its incredibly dense full-body and delightfully spicy black fruit.
A wine explorer’s dream! Alta, the westernmost zone of Rioja, includes within its boundaries the vast majority of the region’s historical towns and sites. This is certainly one of Rioja’s biggest tourist hotspots, not only for its beautiful landscape but also because of the wealth of quality wine that’s always been found here.
Slightly cooler, with a bit more altitude and limestone in the soil, the wines in Alta famously achieve incredible definition. The Zinio 200, for example, shows that underpinning freshness and structure even after a few years of maturation in the bottle, showing just how great these wines are for ageing.
Just the other side of the river Ebro, and dipping into Basque Country, is Rioja Alavesa. The climate is much the same here as it is in Alta. Cooler vineyard sites are the preference, which produce wines with a drinkable freshness, crisp acidity and excellent ageing potential. In the past, the Basque government incentivised locals to take on the vineyards in Alavesa, which has resulted in an increase of smallholdings and a great deal of attention to detail.
Agricola Labastida’s Tierra Blanco, a Viura-based white blend made from grapes grown in nutrient-rich limestone and clay soils, has that cool-site natural freshness you’d expect from a wine produced in this zone. It’s balanced perfectly by a little oak age to give structure. An ideal match for strong seafood dishes.
Viñedo Singular is a new quality designation in Rioja that highlights the unique geographical origins of a wine. It recognises diversity and authenticity, and – like any other Spanish PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) labelling term – it follows a very strict set of quality regulations. These include restricting yields, and ensuring all ageing and bottling is done on site. A true indication of quality, it’s a term you may well find on a bottle of wine from any of the Riojan sub zones.
Cerro La Isa from Juan Carlos Sancha is our new VS listing. The average age of the Garnacha vines is a whopping 114 years old, so these vines have had a long time to dig deep into that nutritious limestone-rich soil! This comes through on the palate with deep, rich red fruit and pepper flavours and a beautifully elegant structure that has both refreshment and depth.
Even the most uninitiated will probably know that Tempranillo is a common grape variety in Rioja. And perhaps Garnacha and Viura too for those that have delved a little deeper. However, you may be surprised to hear that there are actually five permitted red varieties and nine white! Each variety different from the rest, and definitely worth exploring:
While Sauvignon Blanc is far from an under-the-radar variety in the wine world, historically, Rioja’s not been the go-to region for it. It’s often used for aromatics in complex blends, but in the Bodegas Leza Nube Sauvignon Blanc we’ve found a 100% SB with incredible definition. Both the Riojan sunshine and the mineral-rich soil come through, resulting in a wine with immense floral aromatics and a real honest structure on the palate.
It’s quite extraordinary that one of the lesser-known permitted Rioja white varieties is Maturana Blanca, given that it’s the oldest recorded grape variety used here dating all the way back to 1622. In the Costalarbol though, we see exactly why it’s still going strong! This is a white wine with understated class, its citrus and floral fruit is subtle but mineral texture on the palate has presence and poise. A great white variety for freshly grilled fish.
There’s no better way to take your exploration of the Riojan sub zones to the next level than by tasting them yourself! See our whole range of Rioja.
