Spain

Rioja

 

The wine region of Rioja is one of the most important in Europe. With an acreage of 60,882 ha (as of 2008), it lies on the river Ebro in northern Spain. As soils predominate white lime and red-gray clay. More than 20,000 winegrowers produce there to 85% red wine, but also rosé, Rotling and white wines. The red grape varieties Tempranillo (61% of the cultivated area), Garnacha (18%), Mazuelo (3.5%) and Graciano (0.7%) and the white grape varieties Viura (15%), Malvasia (0 , 25%) and Garnacha Blanca (0.09% of the cultivated area). The classic Rioja are either varietal Tempranillo wines or blends with a Tempranillo share of well over 50% and smaller shares of Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. A few producers also vinify varietal wines from Garnacha, Mazuelo (which is the Carignan variety) and Graciano, with the latter in particular being considered a specialty.

A curiosity is that a few Bodegas of Rioja produce Spanish sparkling wine under the DO (Denominación de Origen) cava.