Definition: Rioja (La)

More than 258 producers cultivate approximately 48,500 hectares of vineyards, producing an average of 1,400,000 hectolitres of wine annually. Following a recent decision by the EEC, all Rioja wines must be bottled locally, in the region of origin. There are several classifications of Rioja wines. For reds:
Crianza: wines aged for at least 12 months in oak barrels and a few months in bottles.
Reserva: wines aged for at least 36 months, with a minimum of 12 months in oak barrels and the rest of the time in bottles.
Gran Reserva: wines aged for a minimum of 24 months in oak barrels and 36 months in bottles.
For rosés and whites:
Crianza: wines aged for at least 6 months in oak barrels and several months in bottles.
Reserva: wines aged for at least 24 months, with a minimum of 6 months in oak barrels and the rest in bottles.
Gran Reserva: wines aged for at least 48 months, with a minimum of 6 months in oak barrels and the rest in bottles.
Main grape varieties for reds: Tempranillo (minimum 75%), Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano. Main grape varieties for whites: Viura, Malvasia, Garnacha blanca.
Grape variety for rosés: Garnacha.

Emblem of Rioja: the Osborne bull.
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