Rioja Wine Characteristics | Beronia Rioja

What Makes Rioja Wine So Special?

For centuries, Rioja’s wines have held a special place in the hearts of wine lovers.  But what is it about the wines of Rioja that makes them so extraordinary?  In this blog, we’ll look at the key characteristics of Rioja and what makes the region’s wines unique.

Rioja: Country and Climate in Perfect Harmony

Great wine regions are nature’s gift.  To grow the high-quality grapes required to produce world-class wines, you need a harmonious combination of country and climate.  In this regard, Rioja is truly blessed. 

It may surprise you to learn that to get high-quality grapes, you need poor-quality soils - vines grow best when they have to work for a living – and Rioja has these in abundance.  You’ll find chalky clay, alluvial (from river deposits), and iron-rich clays, all of which are perfect for growing outstanding grapes. 

Rioja’s vineyards are spread over everything from flat, low-laying plains to terraces that have been carved out of high hillsides, which creates a network of diverse microsites.  Add to this plenty of sun and just enough rain, and you have a recipe for vine heaven.

A Variety of Grape Varieties

Adding another layer of complexity and diversity to the wines of Rioja is the fact that many grape varieties thrive here.  Noble vines such as Tempranillo and Garnacha (France’s Grenache) are natural partners which give us spicy blackberry and cherry wines like the classic Beronia Crianza. Then there are rare wines such as the dark, intense, yet tangy Beronia Mazuelo and the joyously fresh, elegantly complex white Riojas made from Viura.  Add in the rosados (rosés), whose styles run from the soft and fun-filled Beronia Rosé to the black cherry, strawberry and peach sophistication of the Algera de Beronia, and you have a world of wine to choose from, all from a single region.

The Role of Oak in Rioja

Rioja is famous for its use of oak in its wines.  So important is the role of oak that it’s even written into the region’s wine laws.  Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva wines all have to spend a minimum amount of time in wood to achieve their classifications.

Oak can easily overpower wines by masking the fruit or by allowing too much oxidation.  Such is the quality of fruit that’s produced in Rioja, though, that the greatest wines, such as the Beronia Selección 198 Barricas, can be aged for two years in barrel to glorious effect.  Using a combination of American and French oak casks, this luxurious treatment adds creaminess and spiciness to Rioja’s wines. 

Rioja: One Region, So Many Wines

One of the fascinating things about Rioja is that it comes in so many styles.  Many great wine regions produce red, white, and rosé wines, but few, if any, can offer the abundance of styles that Rioja boasts.  At Beronia, for example, we produce everything from a fresh, zesty rosado, the Beronia Rosé, to the sumptuous red, the Beronia Reserve Rioja, by way of exciting limited-release wines such as the rare Beronia Graciano.  Such is the range of styles that are available that no matter what your mood, no matter what food you’re eating, or how grand the occasion, Rioja offers the perfect accompaniment.

Explore Rioja With Beronia

The wines of Rioja offer something for everyone and every occasion.  To find your perfect match, explore the wines of Beronia Rioja.