Is it all about the Rioja? Croughton Wine Appreciation Group Is it all about the Rioja? 1

Classifications Vino de Mesa (VdM) - These are table wines Vinos de la Tierra (VdlT) - Similar to France's vin de pays system. Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VCIG) - Introduced in 2003, this considered a stepping stone towards DO status. Denominación de Origen (DO) - Mainstream quality-wine regions. Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)- Similar to DOCG. Rioja was the first region afforded this designation in 1991. Vino de Pago - designation for individual single-estates with an international reputation. 5 Nearly two thirds of the total vineyard area in Spain was within the boundaries a DO region.[3] As of 2013, there were 15 estates with this status. VdP[9] 2

Spain to date….. Consumed 38 Spanish wines to date Average score 3.18 Came 2nd last year (average score)

Pazo de Villarei Pazo de Villarei has 81 hectares in Salnés, heartland of the Rías Baixas and centred on the charming town of Cambados.

Winemaking The vineyards are located at altitudes between 100 - 300m above sea level. Mild summers allow the grapes to ripen slowly - maintains all the aromas as well as the acidity. The banks of the River Umia provide shallow and sandy soil, & the humid Atlantic climate, helps the maturation of the albariño grape. A natural and long fermentation in stainless- steel tanks at very low temperatures preserve all the aromatic potential.

Pazo de Villarei Albariño, Rías Baixas 2015 This fruity, bone-dry, mouthwatering albariño is a lovely introduction to the fresh, aromatic quality of Spain’s famous north-western grape. Grape: Albarino Alcohol Level: 12.5%

Artiga Founded in Spain’s Vilafranca del Penedès in 2002, by a team of young highly-experienced wine professionals, headed by Mr. Martí Quer. Aim is to breathe a fresh lease of life into the production and marketing if wine using a New- world approach; consumer-focus & simplicity. Scottish-born winemaker Pamela Geddes, learned her craft in the whisky industry and more recently in Australia and Chile.

Winemaking Covers the southernmost of Valencia region's three provinces and is divided into two subzones. One of them, La Marina, on the northern part of the coastline, specialises in sweet Moscatel wines. The coastal vineyards of La Marina enjoy a Mediterranean climate. The soil is mainly degraded limestone over limestone bedrock.

Saleta Moscatel-Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Fermented in stainless-steel tanks at cool temperatures. No oak contact and an early bottling captures the fresh, aromatic character of the moscatel grape. Grape: Moscatel & 15% Sauvignon blanc Alcohol Level: 12.5%

Muga Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Marínez and his wife Auro Caño, both from winemaking families, it is run today by their three sons.

Winemaking The cellars not only include the usual fermentation and ageing rooms but also an in- house cooperage using around 60% French – mainly Allier and Tronçais – and the rest American oak. All air-dried here for two years before being profiled, compressed, shaped and toasted by the Muga coopering team. There is not a stainless steel tank in sight. At any given time, there are some 17 thousand barrels here

Muga Blanco Rioja, 2016 After macerating in the press for around 8 hours, this white wine ferments in new, French- oak casks. After fermentation it is left on its lees for a further 3 months until ready. Grape: 90% Viura with 10% Malvasia Alcohol level: 13%

Señorío de Sarría  The winery was founded in 1953, but vineyards have existed on its lands for many centuries. Don Félix Huarte bought Señorío, undertook the planting of new vines and built the winery. In 1981, the winery separated from the Huarte family and set off on a new phase to renovate the wine-making facilities and the vineyard.

Winemaking Located in Puente la Reina, Señorío de Sarría finds itself in an area that offers excellent climate and soil conditions, enabling a range of top quality wines to be made. 100 hectares of numerous varieties of vines are spread out on the slopes and sun-facing sides of Puente la Reina, Olite and Corella. The vines for Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo and Tempranillo are more than 60 years old.

Señorio de Sarria Rosado, Navarra, 2016 Raspberry red colour. Intense and fruity aroma, with red fruits and fennel notes. Pleasant and fresh on the palate, with lingering fruit. Grape: Garnacha Alcohol level: 13.5%

Spain wine facts Spain has more land under grape cultivation than any other country in the world. It might surprise you to know that Spain has more white grape varieties than red ones. There are 235 different grape varieties, both for vinification and consumption of which 111 are native. Spain's most famous red grape variety, Temperanillo means 'the small early one'

Monteabellón Ribera del Duero is located in the upper Duero river comprising 60 municipalities from the provinces of Valladolid, Burgos, Soria and Segovia. Garcia family have been fully dedicated to viticulture with many decades of experience in wine-making. Bodegas Monteabellón was founded in the year 2000. Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero the family owns 98 hectares of vineyards located around the small town of Nava de Roa.

Winemaking The climate of the region is clearly Continental with a light Atlantic influence, cold winters and hot summers. The vineyards are based on loose soils, little fertile with high contents of limestone which give us an excellent fruit to produce high quality wines. Wines are aged in oak barrels, 70 % French and 30 % American. All process takes place in the winery; grape reception, bottling and labelling. All the grapes used to elaborate our wines come from our  own vineyards.

Avaniel, Ribera del Duero 2015 Avaniel is a red young wine elaborated with grapes we obtain from one or our freshest plots called “Los Miles”. It is also one of the youngest vineyard with vines of 6 and 10 years. These conditions makes Avaniel to be a very fresh wine with tasty fruity notes. Maceration for 10 days Grape: Tempranillo Alcohol level: 13.5%

Murua Murua is at the heart of the Rioja Alavesa located in Elciego, one of the towns in the area with most winemaking tradition. Murua stands on a gentle hill enveloped by the historic vineyards which surround this traditional bodega. The estate surrounding the bodega in Elciego is divided into 8 vineyards planted with different grape varieties depending on nuances such as the type of soil, orientation, sun exposure, etc..

Winemaking Murua follows the traditional Rioja methods for making wines. Harvested by hand from our own vineyards making a further selection, bunch by bunch, at the reception table. In total Murua has 2,200 Bordeaux-type casks with a capacity of 225 litres each, made mainly from American and French oak. Wines are left to rest for a few months more in the bottle located in underground cellars and caves equipped to house up to 1,500,000 bottles.

Murua VS, Rioja 2012 Sixteen months in oak add a creamy, silky quality to this perfumed style and the velvety texture would be delicious with turkey. Just ready now so enjoy….. Grape: Temperanillo Alcohol level: 13.5% property next door to Marques de Riscal.

Celler del Roure Celler del Roure was established by Pablo Calatayud in the hills of Moixent south west of the Mediterranean port of Valencia in the mid 1990s. His vineyards are at about 600 m elevation and specialises in autochtonous varieties of the area -Mandó and Monastrell with Verdil for whites. The cold winters give extra flavours to the grapes.

Winemaking The winemaking philosophy here, led by young winemaker Javier Revert, is to embrace the traditional methods of ageing but without the influence of oak flavour. He achieves this by using tinajas – large clay amphorae – to ferment and mature the wines. The advantage of these is that it allows the beneficial properties of positive oxidation which gives the wines their brick-red colour, savoury secondary flavours and soft, well-absorbed tannins. Fortunately the property still had many of these amphorae, 87 of them, stored in their underground cellar which had been used by the family for generations.

Setze Gallets Garnacha-Monastrell, Valencia 2014 Setze Gallets – a blend made up of mostly garnacha and monastrell with 5% mandó – is a great introduction to the style. Long ageing in amphorae endows this wine with mature characteristics and a personality of its own. Grape: Garnacha, Monastrell, Mando Alcohol level: 14%

Maurodos Located in the municipalities of Villaester and San Román de Hornija, has different vineyards with a total area of 80 ha, planted mostly with the variety tinta de toro. Vineyards are on average 35 years old. Some of the oldest vines were planted ungrafted because the area was unaffected by phylloxera. The soils are loose, stony or sandy with clay subsoil where the plant can obtain water in times of drought.

Winemaking The varieties and plots are vinified separately to respect the characteristics of the vineyards. Aged in French and American oak barrels of which 20% are renewed each year. One or two years depending on the vintage and type of wine. Our wines are structured and elegant, balanced, with refined tannins and deep minerality.

San Román, Toro 2011 The region of Toro in north-west Spain produces some of the country’s most powerful red wines. Here the extreme continental climate (hot, dry summers and cold, artic winters) results in tinta de toro grapes that ripen with thick skins, intense flavours and high sugar levels. It is produced from vines with an average age of 90 years which naturally produce tiny yields. (the local name for tempranillo)

San Román, Toro 2011 It spends over two years in French and American oak which accounts for its exotic flavour and sensuous texture. Convert this to wine and you have a style that rests its quality on deep colour, full-body, bold super-ripe flavours and relatively high alcohol. Grape: Tinta de Toro Alcohol level: 14.5%

Croughton Wine Appreciation Group prices time….. 35