Winecast: Rioja

[@henriknordkvist89]

I've tasted 100% Garnacha from Rioja. Its low acidity makes sense, but it had a darker fruit character than I associate with Grenache. Thought it was Montepulciano before I saw the label.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for mentioning a red Rioja that doesn't include Tempranillo. I don't think I made this point effectively in my cast: though the DOCa regulations do state that Tempranillo should be regarded as a "preferred" or "preferrential" grape (my use of the word "dominate" was a poor choice), they can be interpreted to allow for red Riojas made with grapes other than Temp, and such wines do exist. Thanks for sharing what you know about them. Cheers!

[@randyj.fernandezrosario7254]

This is probably one of the best quality for the price you pay regions. Thanks for the feed!

[@williamofriel7825]

Wish I could give you a 100 thumbs up. I've watch a bunch of you videos....You rock!

[@MangoZen]

I visited with Maria Jose at Lopez de Heredia in 2012, as well as 5 other bodegas in La Rioja. However I find Lopez de Heredia to be great food wines and offer excellent value. Thank for a wonderful video. I recently discovered your channel and it has quickly become my favorite as it resonates with my love of the grape 🙂

[@thomashartvigsen6261]

I love your winecaast and I hage just returned from a driving tour through New England whic included a stay in the Finger Lakes region of Upper New York State. I think it would be great if you would do a winecast of the finger lakes region. TAH

[@Underneaththebottle]

One of the best winecasts in my opinion! On my top 5! I just came home from traveling in the Rioja/Bilbao area, and it is BEAUTIFUL during this time of the year. Another thing I learned while there was that the sub region Rioja Baja wants to change their name into Rioja Oriental, as Baja meaning low is kinda unfortunate. Cool beans!

[@Underneaththebottle]

I just read Luke Darracott's comment! People are thirsty for wine news, and wine...definitely thirsty for wine!

[@Underneaththebottle]

Ouh! I also learned that lots of vineyards are moving to Ribeira del Duero as the competition in Rioja is pretty hard.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for the great comments. I've been following your travels, and I have to confess a soft spot for your Spanish snack pairings -- I was in Barcelona over the summer on my honeymoon and my husband and I are still kicking ourselves for not bringing back more Jamôn flavored potato chips! Thanks (to you and to Luke) for keeping me abreast of the latest wine news. It's the first I'd heard of it! Cheers!

[@ginish70]

New to your winecast, but learning a lot!! Thanks for your work!

[@courtcomposer]

Excellent exposition. Thanks!

[@understandingwines9181]

Your videos are always so informative! This was a great learning experience

[@zappoid1]

Thanks for the video! Was surpised to learn about new for me varietal: Maturana Tinta. Will look for it and try. Did not hear from you for a while. Hope you collecting material for new videos )). Wish you the best . Cheers!

[@jeffpickering3716]

I echo the top-5 comment below, plus it mirrors the SWE study guide perfectly as i read it while listening to you... My favorite pick? I am currentlty enjoying my 2010 Baron de ley Gran Riserva - very enjoyable now, but have high hopes for my remaining 2 bottles in years to come, as they will benefit from more years sleeping. Cheers!

[@thegastrotraveler]

Excellent stuff. The ol' classic! Another fun fact: there is currently a process underway to try and get Rioja Baja officially renamed as Rioja Oriental so that, presumably, it doesn't sound as bad as 'lower' Rioja :D! Navarra also asks the same amount of ageing for their Crianzas; though I don't think their wines are ever going to really best the top Riojas. Bless em. Right. Now I'm thirsty.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

No kidding! Sounds like the old story about the film studio renaming the play The Madness of King George III to just The Madness of King George because they were afraid viewers would think they'd missed parts I and II. Great info about Navarra. Thanks! I think you're right, the top Riojas are in a class by themselves. Cheers!

[@matthiaskleinert3141]

Thanks as usual for the cast! For some reason beyond my understanding wines from Rioja have been some of the most inconsistent I've ever had. From completely undrinkable to utterly divine in the same price range and more money did not guarantee better quality. I probably was just unlucky but I tend to buy Priorat these days.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Rioja produces a lot of wines, and high volume is usually a recipe for inconsistency -- witness Bordeaux. I think the key for Rioja is just to do as much research as you can, especially by find and following a critic whose palate you trust. Thanks for the insight. Cheers!

[@michaelfitzgerald434]

Enjoyed this. Thank you!

[@WineGuide]

Another excellent presentation. Rioja is now my go-to wine! I have included a link to this episode on my channel that aired on 9/29/2019; it's all about Rioja, and I hope you enjoy it. Cheers.

[@ericthompson3255]

Recently had the Faustino I 2001 Gran Reserva Rioja and is drinking very well right now and probably for a few years to come. You can really taste the age in a very good way.

[@Adaiauaistudent]

Thank you so much for all these videos! They help a lot! Do you think you can keep uploading about Spain? Castilla y Leon and Castilla y La Mancha, also Galicia and Pais Vasco?

[@tomlafferty4393]

I just came back from La Rioja. One of the visits I made whilst there was to the huge brand of Campo Viejo, which you will know well as an affordable mass produced Rioja. But I was surprised to taste one of their more experimental wines, La Finca, one of 600 bottles made from their on site vineyard with a relatively high proportion of maturana tinta. Lovely wine, concentrated black fruits, I had to bring some home.

[@tomlafferty4393]

Worth mentioning that this was the 2017 blend, as it changes each year, and is only sold at the bodega due to the low production.

[@brianpaul21]

I've never tried a white Rioja but will look for a bottle now. Love the reds. What program do you use to put these presentations together with the voice over? They're well done.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Enjoy trying some whites -- they can be quite good. I use Keynote to produce the slide presentations, and I record the casts using ScreenFlow for Mac. Cheers!

[@hypraktiv]

Amazing content as usual sir, many thanks

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for the compliment and for taking the time to watch. Cheers!

[@veronikachelak9726]

Impressed by Ramon Bilbao, especially with Limited edition Red 2017, Verdejo also is very good. Tested Paco Garcia 100% Garnacha and Crianza.

[@katenesbitt9349]

Hello. Thank you for all of your videos! I am slowly making my way through each one...so helpful. My question for this video is -What are the sensory characteristics of a Rioja? You spoke of its importance regarding “blend domination” but didn’t elaborate. I would love to know a few taste/smell properties to look for because it will help me have some markers to learn this wine. I bought a bottle and plan to open it after you reply :-D

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Hello and thank you for the comment and question. My choice of the word "domination" was, in retrospect, a poor one, and I'm not happy about this one portion of the cast. As I mentioned in a correction in the information section of the video and in my reply to the comment that I pinned for this video, the DOCa rules just state that Tempranillo is to be considered a "preferred" grape in red Riojas. (It is possible to produce a red Rioja without Tempranillo, though they're rare, and such wines are usually driven by Grenache.) The idea behind the "preferred" status of Tempranillo seems to be that the "ideal" red Rioja should have a Tempranillo character and that if there is Tempranillo in the blend it shouldn't play second fiddle to other grapes. So, a red Rioja should, as the DOCa regulatory council views it, have the classic "strawberry and dust" profile of Tempranillo. This is, of course, an oversimplification (just like "tar and roses" is for Nebbiolo). But the idea is if it has Tempranillo in it, it should taste like it does. I have more info on Tempranillo's sensory characteristics in my cast on that grape. I hope that's helpful and wasn't too long. Cheers!

[@katenesbitt9349]

The Unknown Winecaster Thank you for your response. I hadn’t made my way that far into your playlist on varietals before I asked my question. I just watched the one on Tempranillo... Strawberries and dust! Now I’ll open my bottle and listen again. :-) I have started working in a small wine shop and the learning curve is steep but exciting. Can’t tell you how much you are helping me. Cheers!

[@pudgecotico2089]

thank you again , wonderful explanation

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks and thanks again for watching! Cheers!

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Great region, I love their wines as well. I've been drinking them a long time.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

There really are some terrific wines that come out of Rioja. Cheers!

[@geordeocampo4896]

Please make a wine cast regarding some grape vine diseases.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for the suggestion! I have one on Phylloxera, but it might be good to return to disease and talk about Powdery Mildew and other diseases. Thank you, I'll look into putting one together. Cheers!

[@geordeocampo4896]

Thank you so much. Please also include other diseases like pierce disease ect. I really enjoy your winecast and you have add a lot of new knowledge to me. Thanks you

[@trgoohileshea2820]

If you look at ratings, most inexpensive 90+point wines come from Spain or Portugal. I am personally a huge Tempranillo fan. It's a light bodied wine like pinot, but has these amazing pops of flavor.

[@santifresnel2320]

yes it is famous, and for a reason... To me, you havent lived until you had a spanish red with jamon iberico preferably extremeno. Or why not, serrano riojano.

[@joseant.monegrojmnez7831]

Now Don't not Rioja Baja, is New rules and new name is Rioja oriental