In October Spaswinefood is off to check out Rioja. This #winelover is totally jazzed about our upcoming wine adventure. After all Rioja is included on the list of top ten places to visit in 2013 by Wine Enthusiasts. Yes, this will be Spaswinefood's first trip Rioja. Fortunately it will be not my first encounter with Rioja wines. My love for Rioja wines is not new. During our Antigua, Guatemala stays we often buy Rioja wines because it is one of the few good wines available. Sure we have had Rioja wines elsewhere but they are always special in Antigua. Yes, we have had Rioja wines in Spain too. However, not yet in Rioja.
Looking Forward to Rioja Wine Affair
I am excited because I will learn so much more about the wines by visiting Rioja than by simply drinking these wines. This wine adventurer feels the disconnect and therefore has a burning desire to learn more about these wines. Sure you can learn a lot about wines by tasting them. For me however, no amount of tasting can compare to an actual visit to wineries in a wine region.
Rioja Demonacin de Origan Calificada (D.O.C.) is a wine region that is centered around La Rioja but extends into parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava. The Rioja grape varities used in wines from Rioja D.O.C. include the red grapes varieties - Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciono, Mazuelo and Maturana Tinta; white grapes - Viura, Malvasia, Grancha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. The main red grape is Tempranillo with the main white grape being Viura.
Rioja's sub-regions include Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. I am so anxious to discover each of these sub-regions. Michael Scachner's article provides a description of this fascinating wine region. A Catavino article by Muriella Beukers summarizes the historical influences on Rioja wine.
A Rioja Wine Sampling
When you check the Rioja wine bottles labels it describes the type of wine. In the case of Rioja wines the types of wines include four categories primarily based on the aging process. These categories are young wines, Crianza wines, Reserva and Gran Reserva. To date I have tasted mostly young wines and Crianza and so I am looking forward to tasting more Reserva and Gran Reserva Rioja wines.
Here are some examples of my Rioja tastings:
1. Marqués de Riscal Tempranillo VT 2007, is a good overall Tempranillo. On the nose for me it has an earthy, woody smell and on the palate it is fruity.
2. I have also tasted this wine in later vintages.
3. Lealtanza Bodegas Altanza Rioja DOC 2004, is another Rioja wine that I have enjoyed. Snooth gives it good marks.
4. & 5. Here are two more from a recent trip to Málaga, Spain.
Still another delightful Rioja wine is:
Yes, we have rather enjoyed these #winelover experiences.
Although we have been to Spain no visit to Spain is complete without going to Rioja. This is why we are off to Rioja in October. If you are looking for suggestions on hotels on the Rioja wine route see Rick Fisher's article. I invite you to join me in
my travels in Rioja, Spain and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
Sharon
September 2013
Los Gatos, California
© Spaswinefood
Looking Forward to Rioja Wine Affair
I am excited because I will learn so much more about the wines by visiting Rioja than by simply drinking these wines. This wine adventurer feels the disconnect and therefore has a burning desire to learn more about these wines. Sure you can learn a lot about wines by tasting them. For me however, no amount of tasting can compare to an actual visit to wineries in a wine region.
 |
| Autumn in Rioja Vineyards © Photo Courtesy of Rioja Wine |
Rioja's sub-regions include Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. I am so anxious to discover each of these sub-regions. Michael Scachner's article provides a description of this fascinating wine region. A Catavino article by Muriella Beukers summarizes the historical influences on Rioja wine.
A Rioja Wine Sampling
When you check the Rioja wine bottles labels it describes the type of wine. In the case of Rioja wines the types of wines include four categories primarily based on the aging process. These categories are young wines, Crianza wines, Reserva and Gran Reserva. To date I have tasted mostly young wines and Crianza and so I am looking forward to tasting more Reserva and Gran Reserva Rioja wines.
Here are some examples of my Rioja tastings:
1. Marqués de Riscal Tempranillo VT 2007, is a good overall Tempranillo. On the nose for me it has an earthy, woody smell and on the palate it is fruity.
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Marqués de Riscal Tempranillo VT 2007 © Spaswinefood
|
3. Lealtanza Bodegas Altanza Rioja DOC 2004, is another Rioja wine that I have enjoyed. Snooth gives it good marks.
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Lealtanza Bodegas Altanza Rioja DOC 2004 © Spaswinefood
|
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| Señorio de Ondas Reserva Rioja D.O.C. 2007 © Spaswinefood |
Still another delightful Rioja wine is:
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Marqués del Puerto Crianza, Rioja D.O.C. 2008 © Spaswinefood
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Yes, we have rather enjoyed these #winelover experiences.
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| Marqués del Puerto Crianza, Rioja D.O.C. 2008 © Spaswinefood |
Sharon
September 2013
Los Gatos, California
© Spaswinefood
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