La Rioja Blancos

As perhaps Spain’s most renowned winemaking region, La Rioja has a long and storied tradition of winemaking.  While roughly 90% of all Rioja production is geared towards tintos (red wines), the remainder is focused on blancos (white wines), with a little rosado thrown in.

Most Rioja blancos are made with the Viura (Macabeo) grape, and many are blended with a mixture of native and international varieties such as Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo, to name a few.

There are basically two styles of Rioja blancos - fresh, young wines (joven) usually fermented in stainless steel, and barrel aged wines designed for long cellaring.

Just like for the tintos, Rioja uses a strict classification system for barrel aging, i.e. Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, in accordance with a long tradition of crafting white wines aged in oak barrels.

Oak barrels allow for some oxidation and add tannins, muting the fruity aromas, concentrating flavors, and adding texture and heft.  Depending on the age of the barrel, often imparts flavors like vanilla, coconut, nuts, and savory spices.

Many Riojana winemakers barrel age their blancos and hold the bottles in the cellar until an optimal release date in the future.  This means that these white wines are ready to drink now or can be stored in your cellar for years.  If patience is not your thing, then reach for a joven which will provide immediate enjoyment.