Rioja is a wine from a region named after the Rio Oja in Spain, a tributary of the Ebro. It is made from grapes grown in the provinces of La Rioja, Álava or Navarre. A glass of red wine Wine display at the Mt Markey Winery This article is about the beverage. ... An appellation in its broadest sense is a name or designation. ... A tributary (or affluent or confluent) is a contributory stream, a river that does not reach the sea, but joins another major river (a parent river), to which it contributes its waters, swelling its discharge. ... The Ebro (Greek: Έβρος, Latin: Iberus, Spanish: Ebro, Catalan: Ebre) is one of the major rivers of Spain. ... La Rioja is a province and autonomous community of northern Spain. ... Álava province Álavais a province of northern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of the Basque Community. ... Navarre (Spanish Navarra, Basque Nafarroa) is an autonomous community and province of Spain. ...

The wine is a blend of various grapes varieties, and can be either red, white, or rosé. In red wines, the best-known variety used is tempranillo. Others grapes used include garnacha tinta, graciano, and mazuelo. This is a list of varieties of cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a Table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). ... This article is about the beverage. ... This article is about the beverage. ... Rosé is a type of wine that is neither purely red wine nor purely white wine. ... Tempranillo is a wine grape variety grown for use in red wine, native to northern Spain, and widely cultivated in both northern and central Spain. ... Grenache is a sweet red grape variety grown primarily for the making of wine. ...

Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labeled "Rioja", is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which was in oak. "Rioja Reserva" is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, "Rioja Gran Reserva" wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessary produced each year. Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Lithocarpus. ...

Wine has been produced in the region since the Roman era of Hispania Tarraconensis. Rioja’s wine industry started within the monasteries founded to serve pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Roman Imperial province of Hispania Tarraconensis, 120 AD Hispania Tarraconensis was a Roman province in what is known today as modern Spain. ... St James the Moor Slayer. ...

In 1925, Rioja was the first to be granted Denominación de Origen status; in 1991, the appellation was promoted to a Denominación de Origen Calificada due to its consistent quality. 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Denominación de origen is an appellation for Spanish wines. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Denominación de origen is an appellation for Spanish wines. ...

External Links

• The regulator for Rioja wines