I hope during the pandemic, everyone has allowed the love of wine to bring comfort and joy, in a safe, healthy and responsible way.
I have been giving thought to how my written wine musings can create something of value to our readers. The first thing that comes to mind is that with the limited ability to travel the world, I can take us all away to the corners of the wine world by featuring great marriages of grape and place.
As the hot days, cool nights and varied soils match with the spicy plum and savory cherry flavors, unique winemaking practices make soulful and complex wines.
No better place to start than the Spanish region of Rioja and its soul-mate varietal Tempranillo. This rich dark and handsome grape is often blended with touches of Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha, but Tempranillo is the star here.
Red Riojas reflect its terroir as well any wine in the world. As the hot days, cool nights and varied soils match with the spicy plum and savory cherry flavors, unique winemaking practices make soulful and complex wines.
It is also easy to know the various styles of Rioja Reds because they are labeled in four categories based on aging practices. Joven, also called Generico, are lighter, fresh bright-fruited wines that have no minimum ageing or barrel requirements. Crianzas, must be aged for at least a year, with at least 6 months in barrel. Reservas are aged for at least three years with at least 12 months in barrel, and Gran Reservas for a minimum of five years, with at least 24 months in oak. The barrels are mostly American Oak, that along with the characteristics of Tempranillo, deliver spice, smoke and a beautiful gaminess in the wines.
I recently organized a virtual tasting of all categories from classic producers such as Duquesa Victoria, LAN, Urbina and CUNE. Matched with hearty winter faire, we were reminded how magically Tempranillo and Rioja are intertwined.
These are some of the best values in all of the wine world, with quality Jovens rarely topping $15 and even top-notch Gran Reservas available for less than $50.
Unlike wines from most regions, almost any wine purveyor will offer a wide range of vintages reaching back at least five or six years, and the labeling terms make it easy to identify the style you are getting. These are also wonderful food matches; did I hear someone say roast lamb and root vegetables?
Rioja, truly Spain in a bottle. Enjoy.
