Rioja This month Baileys Wine Merchants
are offering Special Offers on selected Rioja wines with savings
of 20% per bottle.
Grapes that make Rioja
White Grapes
Viura
Malvasia
White Grenache
Red Grapes
Tempranillo
Red Grenache
Graciano
Mazuelo
Free Delivery:
We are currently offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders over £100.
This promotion is valid until the 15th August 2008 |
| Wine region's location
La Rioja can be found in the north of Spain, along the valley of
the River Ebro, clearly defined by two mountain ranges, the Sierra
Cantabria to the north and the Sierra de la Demanda to the south.
This wine region is divided into three different areas; Rioja Baja,
Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. All three areas have very distinctive
wines, mainly due to diverse soil and whether conditions which vary
from area to area and have both Mediterranean and Atlantic influences.
This D.O. has some of the oldest wineries in Spain and the wines
of Rioja are, without a doubt, known the world over. Having said
that, today Rioja has to face fierce competition from other very
strong Spanish areas, like Ribera del Duero, Priorat or Somontano,
amongst others.
Wine characteristics
White Wines
For the most part, white wines from Rioja are produce with the Viura
grape. They are generally young wines, with a flat yellow colour
and a fruity and herby taste. Another style of whites are those
which are barrel fermented. They are light gold in colour and taste
of fruits with the added aromas of wood. Alternatively you can have
more traditional Crianzas which are of dark gold colour with dominant
oak aroma and flavour.
Rose Wines
Rioja Rose wines are solely produced in the Rioja Baja area using
the Grenache grape. This gives them a light raspberry colour and
a fresh and fruity taste that is typical of this grape and very
pleasant to the palate.
Red Wines
Red Riojas offer a large scope from where to chose from. A popular
choice are the young wines, better drank during the year, which
will have a strong aroma of sunny, ripe fruits and herbs but are
light and easy to drink. Also well established are the wines aged
in barrel. This will vary from crianzas, where the fruity notes
will be softened up by the influence of the wood, to the reservas
and, most of all, the gran reservas (minimum of two years in barrel
and three in bottle) which will have aromas of vanilla, leather
and tobacco typical of bottle aging. |
