Among them is Rioja, Spain’s powerhouse of red wines that is showing its true colours in all its diversity. Stretching along the banks of mighty Ebro, it lies about 100 km south of the refreshing maritime influence of Bilbao and the Bay of Biscay. The region is flanked by mountains on both sides, with Sierra de Cantabria protecting it from the cold Atlantic influence, while Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Carneros act as a natural shield against the continental extremes of the central plateau. All this creates a temperate climate with Atlantic and Mediterranean elements, perfect for the fresher, paler shades of pink, as well as more intense, darker traditional styles.

Rioja’s location has also proved rather strategic for the region’s international projection. Its proximity to France has allowed for strong historical ties between two great regions like Bordeaux and Rioja. In 1863, the railway arrived in Haro – coincidentally, the same year that the phylloxera set off on ravaging French vineyards. Rioja rapidly became a major wine supplier of the northern neighbour. Its wines rose to international prominence, eventually prompting Rioja’s recognition as the first region in Spain to be recognised as a Denominación de Origen in 1925. Since 1991 it is the Denominación de origen calificada, with stringent regulations for allowed varieties, vinification and ageing for all its styles including rosado and clarete.  We were lucky to take a deep dive into them during our recent study trip to the region that was part of the Rioja Wine Academy, the DOCa Rioja training programme.

@DOCa Rioja

Clarete is a historic style of Rioja, originally made as a field blend of red and white grapes that went through a longer maceration. The result was a more intense pink, or even pale red, typical of the Najerilla Valley, around the villages of Cordovín, Badarán, Alesanco, and San Asensio, where winemakers would use Garnacha and Viura, with a minimum of 25% red grapes. This long-living tradition is a testimony to the popularity of this ‘dark pink’, or ‘light red’ style in different corners of Europe, from Bordeaux to Tavel — in fact, it was the default option for most wines until the eighteenth century.

Today, an increasing number of rosados are made in an international, paler style. Two main vinification techniques are employed: direct press and saignée (sangrado), which involves bleeding off the juice after the brief maceration of the must. The latter is far from being an afterthought for a great wine district like Rioja, but rather a judicious choice for producers that decide to step on the pink path. “Rosé is perhaps the most technically challenging style to produce”, admits Rosana Lisa Oliva, Director and Head of R+D at Lalomba, Ramon Bilbao’s project.

Among them is Rioja, Spain’s powerhouse of red wines that is showing its true colours in all its diversity. Stretching along the banks of mighty Ebro, it lies about 100 km south of the refreshing maritime influence of Bilbao and the Bay of Biscay. The region is flanked by mountains on both sides, with Sierra de Cantabria protecting it from the cold Atlantic influence, while Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Carneros act as a natural shield against the continental extremes of the central plateau. All this creates a temperate climate with Atlantic and Mediterranean elements, perfect for the fresher, paler shades of pink, as well as more intense, darker traditional styles.

Rioja’s location has also proved rather strategic for the region’s international projection. Its proximity to France has allowed for strong historical ties between two great regions like Bordeaux and Rioja. In 1863, the railway arrived in Haro – coincidentally, the same year that the phylloxera set off on ravaging French vineyards. Rioja rapidly became a major wine supplier of the northern neighbour. Its wines rose to international prominence, eventually prompting Rioja’s recognition as the first region in Spain to be recognised as a Denominación de Origen in 1925. Since 1991 it is the Denominación de origen calificada, with stringent regulations for allowed varieties, vinification and ageing for all its styles including rosado and clarete.  We were lucky to take a deep dive into them during our recent study trip to the region that was part of the Rioja Wine Academy, the DOCa Rioja training programme.

@DOCa Rioja

Clarete is a historic style of Rioja, originally made as a field blend of red and white grapes that went through a longer maceration. The result was a more intense pink, or even pale red, typical of the Najerilla Valley, around the villages of Cordovín, Badarán, Alesanco, and San Asensio, where winemakers would use Garnacha and Viura, with a minimum of 25% red grapes. This long-living tradition is a testimony to the popularity of this ‘dark pink’, or ‘light red’ style in different corners of Europe, from Bordeaux to Tavel — in fact, it was the default option for most wines until the eighteenth century.

Today, an increasing number of rosados are made in an international, paler style. Two main vinification techniques are employed: direct press and saignée (sangrado), which involves bleeding off the juice after the brief maceration of the must. The latter is far from being an afterthought for a great wine district like Rioja, but rather a judicious choice for producers that decide to step on the pink path. “Rosé is perhaps the most technically challenging style to produce”, admits Rosana Lisa Oliva, Director and Head of R+D at Lalomba, Ramon Bilbao’s project.

Among them is Rioja, Spain’s powerhouse of red wines that is showing its true colours in all its diversity. Stretching along the banks of mighty Ebro, it lies about 100 km south of the refreshing maritime influence of Bilbao and the Bay of Biscay. The region is flanked by mountains on both sides, with Sierra de Cantabria protecting it from the cold Atlantic influence, while Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Carneros act as a natural shield against the continental extremes of the central plateau. All this creates a temperate climate with Atlantic and Mediterranean elements, perfect for the fresher, paler shades of pink, as well as more intense, darker traditional styles.

Rioja’s location has also proved rather strategic for the region’s international projection. Its proximity to France has allowed for strong historical ties between two great regions like Bordeaux and Rioja. In 1863, the railway arrived in Haro – coincidentally, the same year that the phylloxera set off on ravaging French vineyards. Rioja rapidly became a major wine supplier of the northern neighbour. Its wines rose to international prominence, eventually prompting Rioja’s recognition as the first region in Spain to be recognised as a Denominación de Origen in 1925. Since 1991 it is the Denominación de origen calificada, with stringent regulations for allowed varieties, vinification and ageing for all its styles including rosado and clarete.  We were lucky to take a deep dive into them during our recent study trip to the region that was part of the Rioja Wine Academy, the DOCa Rioja training programme.

@DOCa Rioja

Clarete is a historic style of Rioja, originally made as a field blend of red and white grapes that went through a longer maceration. The result was a more intense pink, or even pale red, typical of the Najerilla Valley, around the villages of Cordovín, Badarán, Alesanco, and San Asensio, where winemakers would use Garnacha and Viura, with a minimum of 25% red grapes. This long-living tradition is a testimony to the popularity of this ‘dark pink’, or ‘light red’ style in different corners of Europe, from Bordeaux to Tavel — in fact, it was the default option for most wines until the eighteenth century.

Today, an increasing number of rosados are made in an international, paler style. Two main vinification techniques are employed: direct press and saignée (sangrado), which involves bleeding off the juice after the brief maceration of the must. The latter is far from being an afterthought for a great wine district like Rioja, but rather a judicious choice for producers that decide to step on the pink path. “Rosé is perhaps the most technically challenging style to produce”, admits Rosana Lisa Oliva, Director and Head of R+D at Lalomba, Ramon Bilbao’s project.

To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.

Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis.

Eaut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.

Profit of being flexible

On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain.

To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.

Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis.

Eaut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.

Profit of being flexible

On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain.

To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.

Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis.

Eaut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.

Profit of being flexible

On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain.