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Rioja Gran Reserva wines, patience rewarded

06/10/2020 Winemaking

Rioja Gran Reserva wines are those made from excellent harvests and aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels plus two years in the bottle before being sold if they are red wines. According to the Regulatory Council, white wines must age in the barrel for at least six months and have a total aging time (barrel and bottle) of at least four years. These wines are, therefore, a reward for patience.

rioja gran reserva

With more than 65,000 hectares of vineyards, Rioja is the oldest denomination of origin in Spain, an exceptional wine region where the soils and climates work together to produce some of the most loved and sought-after wines in the world. 

Rioja produces white, rosé, sweet and sparkling wines, but it is by far the red wines that are the best-known and sought-after all over the world. In general, Rioja wine is characterised by expressing the landscape and tradition and identity but, to make it easier to understand the differences and unique aspects of the wines made in this denomination, the DOCa. Rioja Regulatory Council  created a classification system to distinguish these characteristics. 

How are Rioja wines classified? 

There are two ways to classify Rioja wines, by origin or by aging. 

By origin 

The Qualified Denomination of Origin is spread across both banks of the Ebro river, in the north of Spain, and is divided into three large areas: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, formerly known as Rioja Baja. The three different areas of Rioja all have calcareous clay, ferrous clay and alluvial soils that give local wines unique characteristics and make them easy to identify. 

In order to be more specific about the origin of these wines and the specific personality that this gives them, the DOCa Rioja Regulatory Council has established the following subdivisions: Viñedo Singular, Vinos de Municipio and Vinos de Zona (wines from a single plot/estate, town or zone). These indications cover a smaller to a larger area and help to differentiate which estate or zone the grapes in a wine came from. The Council have also set certain quality standards that must be met to be included in this. 

By aging 

The DOCa. Rioja Regulatory Council also states that wines, regardless of where they come from, can be classified by their traditional aging process. This gives us four different types of wine: Generic Wines, Crianza Wines, Reserva Wines and Gran Reserva Wines. 

What are Rioja Gran Reserva wines like? 

Rioja Gran Reserva wines are more complex and have a more obvious influence of wood. The best wines will have an elegant balance between the fruit and the notes taken from the barrel aging process. 

How do we know what we are drinking? 

As with Crianza wines and Reserva wines, every bottle of Rioja Gran Reserva has a label that makes it easy to identify. This makes it really easy to choose the right thing. 

The DOCa. Rioja Regulatory Council always tries to make the information clear and accessible for everyone, so every bottle has a different label according to its category. A Rioja Reserva wine label looks like this:

rioja wines

It is largely accepted that the longer a wine ages, the better it will be. This is mostly true; wines that go through a long aging process, like Rioja Gran Reserva wines, are usually excellent quality wines that have been touched by the magic of time, but this rule does not work for all wines.  

It is important to remember that aging is not good for all wines. Wines made in great vintages that are masterfully produced and properly preserved are the ones that will age with dignity and even to improve over time. 

If you want to know what we mean when we say that Rioja Gran Reserva wines are blessed by the passing of time, here are four examples that will bring you a whole new level of enjoyment, wines that are worth the wait. 

4 Rioja Gran Reserva wines that really stand the test of time 

Faustino I Gran Reserva

faustino

Faustino I is not just the iconic wine made by Bodegas Faustino, it is an example of the most classic Rioja wines. A wine that was first made in the sixties and has grown in popularity ever since. And for the price, this really is a gem. Do you want to try it? 

Contino Gran Reserva

contino

Contino is made by the renowned Bodegas Cvne, the first winery in Rioja with a château spirit. Contino Gran Reserva is a coupage of the Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha and Viura varieties that have been aged for around 5 years in wood and the bottle. French finesse and elegance. A wine that will always make you look good. 

200 Monges Gran Reserva

200 monjes

Made with a typical Rioja coupage and 70 months of aging, 30 of them in new French and American oak barrels, the 200 Monges Gran Reserva wine, from Bodega Vinícola Real, has gradually become an extraordinary and sought-after delight for those who want to experience the joy of sipping a warm, elegant and flavoursome wine with an excellent bottle aging potential. 

Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva

castillo ygay

Made with the Tempranillo and Mazuelo varieties and aged for five years in the barrel and bottle until it reaches its most elegant. Castillo Ygay is only made in excellent vintages. A powerful and sensual caress that challenges the passage of time. In short, a complex and deep wine with a liveliness that makes it very persistent.

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