| Rioja is a region in Northern Spain with
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| | is an all importantconsideration as well.
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| a long and glorious viticultural history.
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| | Today seven varieties of grape are
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| Rioja wine, especially the red, has been
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| | permitted by the Regulations of the
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| well known for centuries.
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| | Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja,
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| The Rioja region in Northern
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| | these are:
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| Spain is situated in the Rio Ebro valley,
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| | -Red grape; Tempranillo, Garnacha,
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| it's northernborder being bounded by the
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| | Mazuelo and Graciano and White Grape;
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| Sierra de Cantabrias mountain range and
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| | Viura, Malvasía and White Garnacha.
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| it's southernby the Sierra de la Demanda.
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| | Types of Rioja Wines.Most Rioja wines are
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| The resulting geographical location
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| | normally the result of the harmonious
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| createsconditions that have produced a
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| | combination, in varying proportions, of
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| perfect environment for vineyards.
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| | the different varieties grown in the
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| The Denominación de Origen Calificada
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| | region and the different sub-areas within
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| Rioja covers some 57,000 hectareslocated
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| | them.
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| in 3 Autonomous Communities those of La
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| | Rioja wines exhibit much aromatic
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| Rioja, The Basque countryand Navarra.
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| | complexity. They are fresh, with a medium
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| Between them they produce around 250
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| | body, a balanced structure, and an
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| million litres of Rioja wine per annum Of
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| | excellent bouquet.
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| which 85% is red and the rest whites or
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| | - Red wines: Classic wines of bright
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| rosés.
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| | colour with a fresh, penetrating aroma;
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| Wine has been produced in this area for
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| | light in the mouth with medium alcohol
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| centuries, initially by monks inthe
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| | content. Tempranillo is the predominant
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| middle ages but as far back as 1635 the
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| | variety used to make these wines.
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| Mayor 0f Logroño decreedthat no
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| | - Rosé wines: Bright pink wines with a
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| carriages were to pass along the roads
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| | strong fragrance. They are light and
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| next to the cellars forfear that the
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| | fresh in the mouth, with medium alcohol
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| vibration from them might affect the
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| | content. Garnacha is the predominant
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| juice and the ageing of the precious
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| | variety used to make these wines.
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| Rioja wines.
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| | - White wines: Greenish-yellow, which can
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| In 1102 we find the first document making
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| | be more or less pale. They exhibit fine
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| reference to the safeguardingof the
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| | aromas and prove light in the mouth with
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| quality of Rioja wines when King Sancho
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| | fairly low alcohol content. Viura is the
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| of Navarra legally recognized the wines
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| | predominant variety used to make these
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| from this area. Then in 1787 the Real
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| | wines.
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| Sociedad Económica de Cosecheros de
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| | Ageing Rioja Wines.Rioja wines are aged
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| Rioja (Royal Economic Society of Rioja
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| | in 225-litre oak casks, with periodic
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| Winegrowers) was established with the
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| | rackings, followed by a further period of
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| sole purpose of encouraging the
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| | bottle ageing. There are over 270 ageing
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| cultivation of vines, wine production and
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| | bodegas in Rioja which have a total of
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| its commercial development.
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| | over 900,000 casks. The different Rioja
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| In 1902 came a Royal Decree which defined
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| | wine categories are based on minimum
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| the "origin" applicable toRioja Wines and
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| | ageing periods, which can vary between 1
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| then in 1926 came the Consejo Regulador
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| | and 3 years in casks and between 6 months
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| (Control Board) with responsibility to
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| | and 6 years in the bottle, depending on
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| define the designated boundaries of the
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| | whether the wine is to be a Crianza, a
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| Rioja region,supervise and issue the
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| | Reserva or a Gran Reserva. Rioja wines
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| "seal of approval", and to recommend the
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| | are aged in oak casks of 225 litre
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| legal action to be takenagainst mis-use
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| | capacity with periodic rackings.
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| of the name Rioja. In 1945 the board
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| | Then follows a period of bottle ageing.
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| received it'slegal structure and then in
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| | The length of the ageing process differs
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| 1953 finally became officially
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| | between different categories of Riojan
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| established from which time it has set
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| | wine and can vary from1-3 years in the
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| out the foundations for a modern and
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| | cask and 6 months to 6 years in the
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| efficient production of these world
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| | bottle dependingon whether the wine is to
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| famous Spanish wines.
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| | be a Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva.
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| In1970 this responsibility was clearly
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| | Today there are over 270 ageing bodegas
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| defined thus, "The Control Board shall
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| | in Rioja with over 900,000 casks.
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| uphold the Designation of Origin and
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| | The lengthy tradition of winemaking in
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| implement, monitor and foster the quality
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| | the Rioja region of Northern Spainwith
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| of its wines.
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| | the inherent wealth of experience that
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| "The long history of the production and
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| | such a period of trial, error, disaster,
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| development of Rioja wines has resulted
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| | success and experimentation produces has
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| in a wine of outstanding quality which
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| | resulted in blessingthe world with a
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| can confidently stand shoulder to
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| | marvellous wine which will satisfy the
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| shoulder with many of the worlds finest
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| | most discerning palette.
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| wines. This was further acknowledged when
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| | The Health Benefits of Red Wine.A further
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| on April 3rd. 1991 a Ministerial Order
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| | excellent fact about Rioja, and most dark
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| granted the category of "Calificada" to
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| | red wines, is that scientific evidence
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| the D.
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| | now tells us that they are positively
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| O., the first and only wine designation
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| | good for us. Drunk in moderation they
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| of origin in Spain to attain this
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| | provide us with those all important
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| ranking.
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| | anti-oxidants. One of which in
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| Rioja Wines, Grape Varieties.For many
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| | particular, called reservatrol, has been
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| centuries wine has been produced in the
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| | shown to have anti-cancer properties as
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| Riojan area and obviouslythis lengthy
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| | well as to have an anti-blood clotting
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| passage of time has resulted in the
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| | effect. Further proof perhaps of the
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| natural selection of grapes bestsuited to
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| | health benefits of the Mediterranean
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| the area and best able to produce wines
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| | Diet.
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| of the highest quality.
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| | So now when you take a drink of red wine
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| Factors such as soil type and climate
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| | and say, " your health", you can really
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| play a large part in this selection
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| | mean it. CHEERS!
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| process but of course the resultant wine
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