The Second Glass

Gather round children, ’cause it’s time for a quick lesson in Iberian viticulture. The Second Glass spoke with Ryan and Gabriella Opaz, of Catavino.net who are wine bloggers currently in residence in Barcelona, Spain. Ryan and Gabriella were nice enough to hit us up with some great photos, so over the next few weeks we’ll focus on different appellations (read: hoods) and the biggest styles (read: the fly shit) that Spain and Portugal have to offer. This week we’ll focus on Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

Rioja and Ribera del Duero

Ryan and Gabriella explained to us the lopsided influence Rioja and Ribera del Duero have on the Spanish wine market. Located in North Central Spain, both regions can credit their success to their ability to combine both modern and traditional winemaking techniques so as to create wines that at times are super tradtional. “[The practices] allow them to create big, bold and long lived Tempranillos considered some of the greatest throughout Spain,” Ryan said. Rioja is the most recognized name in Spanish wine, heavily influenced by its vast history in winemaking.

What’s up with the Juice? “They vary from bright, fresh, very fruity young wines to the more complex, spicier wines with good body, solid structure and an elegant flavor,” Gabriella asserts. Both old and new styles can be found in these regions.

“Rioja’s climate benefits from both the Atlantic and Mediterranean influences,” Gabriella says, “which brings mild temperatures and an annual rainfall of 400mm.” “The Duero Valley,” she said, “generally suffers from incredibly cold, dry winters and equally intense summers.” But, check this out, the secret to the region’s success, according to Ryan, is the thermal difference between night and day, which aids in the maturation of the grapes.

Major Grapes of Rioja and Ribera del Duero:

• Red: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino or Tinta del País), Graciano, Garnacha, Mazuela

• White (Rioja Only): Viura, Malvasía Riojana, Garnacha Blanca

Stay tuned for more from the Catavino Crew next week as they drop knowledge about Galacia.

For more info on wines from Spain and Portugal or to see more of Ryan and Gabriella Opaz’s photography, checkout Catavino.net/rioja