Grape varieties in Rioja
The passage of time and the experience of the grapegrowers and winemakers have propitiated the natural selection of those varieties of grape which were best able to adapt to Riojan soils and climate, and which, at the same time, were able to produce wines of the highest quality. The fruit of this historical process are the seven varieties of grape which are currently permitted by the Regulations of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja.
RED GRAPE VARIETIES
TEMPRANILLO
The Tempranillo variety occupies 31,046 hectares of cultivated land, which represents 61% of the D.O.Ca. Rioja, with a steady growth over the last few years at the expense of other varieties. It is considered to be a species indigenous to the Rioja region and its Spanish origin is internationally recognised.
The Tempranillo grape sets very well but is very sensitive to pests and disease and not very resistant to drought or high temperatures.
Its wines offer an honest flavour, appealing and fresh in young wines and understated and velvety in aged wines. It is regarded as the most favoured variety and for quite some years it has occupied the largest proportion of vineyards in the D.O.
Several studies have shown this variety to be the same as Cencibel in Mancha, Tinto de Madrid, Tinto de Toro and Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero. The synonyms which appear in literature and in ampelographic collections all over the world are as follows: Aragonez, Arganda, Cencibel, Chinchillana, Escobera, Garnacho, Foño, Jaciuera, Negra de Mesa, Tinta Santiago, Tinta Montereiro, Tinto Fino, Tinto País, Tinto Riojano, Tinto de Toro, Tinto de Madrid, Ull de Llebre, Valdepeñas, Verdiell and Vid de Aranda.
GARNACHA
With a surface area of 9,150 hectares, representing 18% of the vines grown within the Denominación, the Garnacha variety has gradually decreased in favour of Tempranillo. Its Spanish origins are internationally recognised. Among red wines, it is the most extensively grown variety in the world, with a total of 330,000 hectares, of which 240,000 hectares are in Spain.
Liable to coulure if not properly tended, this is nonetheless a hardy plant, able to withstand periods of drought and also fairly resistant to pests and major vine diseases such as rust mites and powdery mildew. The product obtained depends largely on the environmental conditions (heat summation) and the way it is cultivated (production).
In warm areas, it produces the kind of wine that has given it its reputation (high alcohol level, low acidity and full body) but in cool areas it produces a very interesting, well-balanced wine. One cannot generalise about Garnacha wine as results may vary greatly depending on where it is grown. It is often unjustly criticised as being of poor quality by those lacking sufficient knowledge or experience of its possibilities. It has been present in Rioja wine for most of the twentieth century.
Synonyms registered in ampelographic collections from all over the world are as follows: Abundante, Alicante, Cannonaddu, Cannonaddu Nieddu, Cannonao, Cannonau Selvaggio, Canonazo, Carignane Rosso, Garnaccho Negro, Garnatxa Pais, Gironet, Granaccia, Granaxa, Grenache Rouge, Lladoner, Retagliad Nieddu, Rivesaltes, Rousillon Tinto, Rousillon, Tinto Aragonés, Tinto Navalcarnero, Uva di Spagna.
MAZUELO
This variety is grown over a surface area of only 1,814 hectares, which makes up 3,5% of the D.O.Ca. Rioja. Worldwide, 220,000 hectares are cultivated, 207,000 of which are in France. Its French origin is internationally accepted under the name of Carignan Noir.
It bears more fruit than the previously mentioned varieties and it is extremely prone to powdery mildew. Mazuelo requires greater heat summation than the other varieties. In cool areas it does not ripen properly. It gives musts with a lot of colour and acidity, harsh and lacking in aroma. Its wines are rich in tannins and rough on the palate.
The following synonyms have been recorded: Babonenc, Bois Dur, Boue Duro, Cagnolaro Tinto, Carignan Mouillan, Carignano, Cariñena, Catalan, Cencibel, Crujillon, Crusillo, Girarde, Legno duro, Manuelo Tinto, Mataro, Mazuelo, Mollard, Monestel, Plant de Ledenon, Roussillonen, Samso, Samso Crusillo, Sopatna Blau, Tinto Mazuela, Uva di Spagna.
GRACIANO
In Rioja, barely 395 hectares of this variety are grown, representing 0.7% of the Denominación. It is regarded as indigenous and its Spanish origin is internationally accepted. Of the authorised red grape varieties it is the one which occupies the least surface area of vine in Rioja and, unlike the previous ones, it is not grown in significant quantities in other areas.
It is more resistant to pests and diseases than Tempranillo. It produces a bright red coloured must, with considerable acidity and a pleasant, characteristic bouquet. It is the most aromatic of all our varieties. It is important to gain better understanding of this grape variety in view of the likely increase of this grapevine in Rioja in the coming years.
The collected synonyms in the ampelographic collections from all over the world are as follows: Bastardo Nero, Bordelais, Cagnolale, Cagnovali Negro, Cagnulari, Cagnulari Bastardo, Cagnulari Sardo, Caldaredou Caldarello, Cargo Muol, Couthurier, Graciano Tinto, Gros negrette, Minustello, Morrastel, Tinta do Padre Antonio, Tinta Miuda, Tintilla, Xerez, Zinzillosa.
WHITE GRAPE VARIETIES
VIURA
It occupies 7,589 hectares (15% of the total surface area) making it the main white grape variety grown in Rioja. Worldwide, 58,000 hectares are cultivated, of which 51,000 hectares are found in Spain. Its Spanish origin is recognised.
It produces a small number of large clusters. It is more productive than the red varieties but its fruit is sensitive to botrytis. In cool areas it produces a pleasant, acidy must, with a characteristic flavour.
Its wine is considered to be appropriate for ageing in wood, which suits the traditional way of making white Riojas.
Synonyms found are: Alcañón, Forcalla, Gredelin, Lardot, Macabeo, Macabeu, Queue de Renard, Rossan.
MALVASÍA
It covers 127 hectares, representing 0.25% of Rioja’s total vineyard area. This grape comes originally from Asia Minor but it was introduced into Europe early on. There are many grape varieties with this name throughout the world, but these are not regarded as belonging to the same species as Malvasía de Rioja.
The clusters are a reddish yellow when ripe, which is the origin of some of the synonyms by which it is known in Rioja. The fruit is prone to botrytis. It gives an interesting must, with a certain oiliness and a distinctive aroma. Its possibilities in Rioja have not been fully explored, due to the small area cultivated.
The only internationally accepted synonym is Sibirat Parent, but in Rioja other names are used which allude to the reddish hue of the skin in ripe grapes, such as Rojal, Blanca Roja and Blanquirroja.
WHITE GARNACHA
Of all the grape varieties authorised in Rioja, this is the vine which occupies the smallest area, with 44 hectares, or 0.11% of Riojan vines. Worldwide, 40,000 hectares are planted, of which 25,000 hectares are found in Spain. Its Spanish origin is accepted and it may be the result of a mutation of Red Garnacha.
It is a hardy variety with very similar characteristics to the Red Garnacha. It gives an alcoholic must and, if grown in cool areas, proves quite pleasant with enough acidity. This too is a variety which is not sufficiently known in Rioja due to its minor importance.
Synonyms recorded in ampelographic collections from all over the world are as follows: Alicante Blanca, Garnacha, Grenache Blanc and Sillina Lanc.
