Wine from Spain. Rioja is one of my favorite. Stable, and promising.
Generally, Rioja are classified into four categories.
1/ Rioja - It is the youngest, spending less than a year in an oak aging barrel.
2/ Rioja Crianza - Aged at least for two years, one of which must be aged in oak.
3/ Rioja Reserva - It is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak.
4/ Rioja Gran Reserva - Aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle.
Reserva and Gran Reserva are not necessarily to be produced each year. Also semi-crianza style are those have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza.
The designation of Crianza, Reserva, etc. might not always appear on the front label but it may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
Generally, Rioja are classified into four categories.
1/ Rioja - It is the youngest, spending less than a year in an oak aging barrel.
2/ Rioja Crianza - Aged at least for two years, one of which must be aged in oak.
3/ Rioja Reserva - It is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak.
4/ Rioja Gran Reserva - Aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle.
Reserva and Gran Reserva are not necessarily to be produced each year. Also semi-crianza style are those have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza.
The designation of Crianza, Reserva, etc. might not always appear on the front label but it may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
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