W3 Wine School

Rioja Joven (Spain)

Rioja is a DOCa wine region in Northern Spain.

Rioja Joven is a young Rioja with less than one year in oak.

A typical Rioja blend consists of approx. 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha.

Rioja Joven Aromas

Aromas of ripe red and black fruits is Tempranillo's hallmark, with hints of herbs, licorice, anise, and minerals. Young Tempranillo offers flavours of cherry, plum, tomato and dried fig.

Cherry
Red
Cherry
Cherry
Black
Cherry
Tomato
Tomato
Blackberry
Blackberry
Plum
Plum
Fig
Fig
Herbs
Herbs
Licorice
Licorice

Tertiary Flavors from Aging

Oak aging imparts sweet vanilla, coconut and spicy notes such as cloves and cinnamon.

Vanilla
Vanilla
Coconut
Coconut
Cloves
Cloves
Cinnamon
Cinnamon

Rioja Joven Profile

Medium acidity and moderate tannins make Rioja Joven wines tasty, easy to like and easy to pair with many types of food. The balance of fruit, spice, and earthy flavors makes Tempranillo a favorite for many.

BODY:Medium
TANNINS:Medium
FRUIT:Medium
ACIDITY:Medium
ALCOHOL:13-14 % ABV

Temperature
Sugar: 3 g/l

Serving temperature:
15-16°C (59-61°F)
Reserva 16-18°C (61-64°F)

Rioja Joven Food Pairing

Rioja Joven is perfect with Lamb and Pork. It is also perfect with Filet Mignon, but lacks the tannins for a fat Beef.

Young Rioja Joven pairs well with both Spicy and Tomato based dishes.

Antipasti
Tapas
Ham
Ham
Salami
Chorizo
Chili
Chili
Pasta
Pasta
Pizza
Pizza
Lasagna
Lasagna
Hamburger
Hamburger
Chicken
Chicken
Rabbit
Rabbit
Pork
Pork
Lamb
Lamb

Excellent Pairings

Tapas. Olives. Cold Cuts. Chorizo.
Pizza. Spaghetti. Lasagna.
Casseroles. Tomato Based Meatballs.
Savory Stews. Moroccan Tagine.
Roasted Meat. Lamb. Pork. Poultry.
Red Pepper Dishes.
Tacos. Nachos. Burritos.

Spanish Specialities:

Paella.
Chili con Carne.

The Ideal Glass for Rioja Joven

The Bordeaux Glass was designed for enjoying fuller-bodied, tannic red wines. They are taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.

The tall size allows the bouquet of the wine to develop, smooth out rough edges, play down tannins, and allow the wine to achieve balance.

The slimmer bowl directs the wine to the back of your mouth for a maximum taste.

If You Like Rioja Joven

You Might Also Like:

Cabernet Franc (France)
Chianti Classico (Italy)
Douro Tinto (Portugal)
GSM Wines (France)
Mencia (Spain)
Merlot (France)
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Ribera del Duero (Spain)
Sangiovese (Italy)
Tempranillo (Spain)
Tinta de Toro (Spain)

About Tempranillo

Tempranillo is the noble grape variety of Spain, just like Cabernet Sauvignon is to France.

Tempranillo is the most planted red wine grape in Spain.

Tempranillo is the third most planted grape in the world.

Tempranillo

In Spain, Tempranillo thrives best in the cooler wine regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

The name comes from Spanish temprano which means early" and refers to early ripening.

Young Tempranillo wine has medium color, moderate acidity, and a fine berry-like character, while aged Tempranillo often develops a sweet spicy, leather and tobacco-like flavor.

Tempranillo wines are generally softer and rounder than Bordeaux wines, but drier than Burgundy wines.

Medium acidity and moderate tannins make Tempranillo wines round and soft, with a spicy aftertaste.

The wines are easy to like, and easy to pair with many types of food.

Cherries and Red and Black Berries are typical Tempranillo flavors, with hints of Herbs, Licorice, Spices, and Minerals.

Synonyms

Tempranillo is also called "Ull de Llebre" (means Eye of the Hare), "Cencibel", "Tinta del Pais", "Tinta de Toro", Tinta Fina" in Spain, and "Aragonez" or "Tinta Roriz" in Portugal (used in Port wine).

Terroir

Tempranillo loves calcareous clay soils but performs well also in limestone, chalck and iron rich ones.

The better performance in the world is in "La Rioja" and "Ribeira del Duero", Spain.


Spanish Tempranillo DO Regions

Rioja was the first Spanish region to be awarded DOCa status (1991).

Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grapes. A typical blend consists of 65% to 85% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha.

Rioja Joven
Less than one year in Oak.
60-80% Tempranillo
20% Garnacha
Rioja Crianza DOCa
Min 24 months aging. One year in Oak.
60-80% Tempranillo
20% Garnacha
Rioja Reserva DOCa
Min 36 months aging. One year in Oak.
60-80% Tempranillo
20% Garnacha
Rioja Grand Reserva DOCa
Min 60 months aging. Two years in Oak.
60-80% Tempranillo
20% Garnacha
Ribera del Duero DO 90-100% Tempranillo
Toro DO 90-100% Tempranillo

Wine Region Rioja

Localización de La Rioja Vineyards

Rioja is a famous wine region in the north-central part of Spain. It is Spain’s largest red wine producing region with over 600 wineries and an annual production of over 400 million bottles.

The Rioja region is a denominación de origen calificada, "Qualified Designation of Origin (D.O.Ca)", the highest category in Spanish wine regulation.

Rioja wines ares made from grapes grown in La Rioja and Navarre, and the Basque province of Álava.

The key appellations are Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (previously Rioja Baja).

Rioja


Rioja Alta (Rioja High)

Rioja Alta

Rioja Alta is Located on the western side of Rioja. It has an Atlantic climate, and its soils consist of iron-rich clay mixed with limestone. Thanks to the elevation and cooler temperatures, Rioja Alta wines have more tannin and higher acidity than Rioja Oriental, and they are often more elegant.


Rioja Alavesa

Rioja Alvesa

Rioja Alavesa is the smallest of the Rioja regions. It is located between the Ebro River and the rocky mass of the Sierra Cantabria. The wines bear a high resemblance to the wines of Rioja Alta with high tannins and high acidity.

The vineyards here are located at high altitudes, resulting in cooler temperatures that aid in the acquisition acid levels and good colour. The soil is rich in chalky clay, limestone and sand.


Rioja Oriental (Rioja East)

Rioja Oriental

The wines from Rioja Oriental (Rioja East), formerly the Rioja Baja (Rioja Low) are fruit-forward and the wineries focus on wines designed to drink young.


Red Wines

The region is best known for high-quality Rioja Wines.

A typical Rioja blend consists of 60% Tempranillo ("the Grape of Spain") and 20% Garnacha along with other fruity additives like Mazuelo (Cariñena) and Graciano.

White Wines

Viura (Macabéo) is the dominant white grape in Rioja, accounting for 70% of white varieties.

Viura is also found in France, particularly in Roussillon and the Languedoc, where it is called Maccabeo or Maccabeu.

Nine white varieties is allowed to use in white Rioja: Viura, Malvasía Riojana, Garnacha Blanca, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco and Torrontés.


DOCa Rioja (La Rioja)

Rioja was the first Spanish wine region to obtain DO status in 1925. In 1991, it was promoted to DOCa (Qualified Designation of Origin), a higher category reserved for wines maintaining a proven consistency and quality over a long period of time.


Black GrapesWhite Grapes

Black Grapes

88% Tempranillo
  2% Garnacha
  2% Cariñena
  2% Graciano

White Grapes

70% Viura (Macabeo)
12% Tempranillo Blanco
  5% Verdejo
  4% Garnacha Blanca
  3% Sauvignon Blanc
  2% Malvasía

Red WinesWhite Wines

Red Wine

Rioja Joven
Rioja Crianza
Rioja Reserva
Rioja Rosado

White Wine

Viura (Macabeo)
Garnacha Blanca
Rioja Blanco
Rioja Blanco Reserva
Tempranillo Blanco

SoilClimate

Soil

Rioja Alta:
Alluvial.
Calcareous Cay.
Ferrous Clay.

Rioja Alavesa:
Calcareous Clay.
Limestone and Sand.

Rioja Oriental (Baja):
Alluvial.
Ferrous Clay.

Climate

Hilly Riverbanks.
Altitude: 350 - 650m.

Moderate Mediterrian Climate.
Atlantic Winds.
Sierra de Cantabria Mountains.
Ebro River.

Rioja Soil


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