Rioja Blanco Reserva (Spain)
White Rioja is made from minimum 51% Viura grapes.
Rioja Blanco is produced in different styles: Unoaked and Oaked.
Rioja Blanco Reserva is oaked for 24 months.
Rioja Blanco Reserva Flavors
Lime, Green Apple, White Peach, and Passion Fruit are typical Rioja flavors, with delicate herbal notes of Blackcurrant Leaves. Fresh-Cut Grass, and Pepper.
 Lime |
 Apple |
 Peach |
 Passion |
 Herbs |
 Currant |
 Gras |
 Pepper |
Flavors from Maturation and Aging
 Vanilla |
 Butter |
 Toast |
 Coconut |
Rioja Blanco Reserva Profile
An Oaked White Rioja is much like an Oaked Chardonnay:
| SUGAR: | Dry (3 g/l) |
| BODY: | Medium - Full |
| FRUIT: | Medium |
| ACIDITY: | Medium |
| ALCOHOL: | 13% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 10-12°C (50-54°F) |
Rioja Blanco Reserva Food Pairing
White Rioja is very food friendly.
Italian. Spanish. International. Asian. Mexican. Vegetarian.
 Salads |
 Tapas |
 Seafood |
 Carcuterie |
 Fish |
 Chicken |
 Pork |
 Veal |
Excellent Pairings
Charcuterie. Almonds.
Serrano Ham. Salami.
Rich Seafood. Lobster.
Grilled Tuna and Salmon.
Poultry in Creamy Sauce.
Grilled Pork and Veal.
Grilled Veggies. Mushroom.
Cheeses
Strong Cheeses.
Spanish Specialities
Spanish Salt Cod (Bacalao).
Paella with Rice.
Tortilla with Eggs.
The Ideal Glass for Rioja Blanco Reserva
The Chardonnay Glass was designed for enjoying full-bodied white wines. They have a wider bowl and a tapered top to enhance the buttery and oaky notes found in aged wines.
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The wide bowl steers the wine to the sensitive parts of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity creates a harmonious balance with the sweet aromas of the wine. The wide bowl allows the full bouquet of aromas to develop. It also reduces the risk for over-concentrated aromas. |
Rioja Blanco Reserva Cheese Pairing
Manchego
The rich, nutty flavors of Manchego pair well with the fruit and body of a full-bodied Rioja Blanco Reserva.
The wine's acidity provides a fresh contrast to the firm and creamy sheep's milk cheese.
Idiazabal and Roncal
These firm sheep's milk cheeses have intense, savory flavors that work well with structured full-bodied white wines.
Oak-aged whites can be especially good with their nutty and slightly smoky flavors.
Mahón
Mahón has buttery, slightly salty and nutty flavors that complement the richness of a full-bodied Rioja Blanco Reserva.
Tetilla and Arzúa-Ulloa
These mild and creamy Galician cheeses are excellent with rich white wines.
The fresh acidity of the wine balances their soft and buttery texture.
Zamorano
Zamorano is a firm and flavorful sheep's milk cheese with enough intensity for a powerful full-bodied Rioja Blanco Reserva.
Garrotxa and Majorero
These goat cheeses offer earthy and savory flavors that pair well with full-bodied white wines with good acidity.
Murcia al Vino
The creamy texture and gentle goat flavors of Murcia al Vino pair well with a rich Rioja Blanco Reserva.
Its wine-washed rind adds another layer of aroma and complexity.
San Simón
The gentle smoky character of San Simón works particularly well with full-bodied whites that have been matured in oak.
Aged Spanish Cheeses
Firm aged cheeses with nutty and savory flavors complement the fruit, oak, and complexity of a full-bodied Rioja Blanco Reserva.
If You Like Rioja Blanco Reserva
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Rioja Blanco DOCa
Rioja Blanco wines are a blend of various grapes.
White Rioja is made from minimum 51% Viura grapes.
Pluss a combination of any of the grapes Malvasía de Rioja, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés de Rioja, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo.
| DOCa | Denominación de Origen Calificada |
|---|---|
| Rioja Blanco | Joven (Young). Unoaked. |
| Crianza | Minimum 12 months aging. 6 months in Oak. |
| Reserva | Minimum 24 months aging. 6 months in Oak. |
| Gran Reserva | Minimum 48 months aging. 6 months in Oak. |
Wine Region Rioja
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
- Rioja Oriental (previously Rioja Baja)
Rioja Alta (Rioja High)
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 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)
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.
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.
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 (Macabeo) 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.
Black Grapes | White Grapes |
88% Tempranillo |
70% Viura (Macabeo) |
Red Wines | White Wines |
|
Viura (Macabeo) |
Soil | Climate |
Rioja Alta: Rioja Alavesa:
Rioja Oriental (Baja): |
Hilly Riverbanks. |
