05/10/06 Spanish Wines (cont.)

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and on today's program, we are going to continue our exploration of the Spanish wines from Rioja. Yesterday we discussed the fact that the unusual geographic location of the Rioja region of Spain undoubtedly contributes to the unique character of the wines. But beyond that the extra barrel aging in combination with the unique blend of grape varietals is probably what most sets Rioja apart from many wines in the world. American oak has an affinity for these grape blends and thus it is the predominant barrel used in Rioja. A simple Rioja will spend one or two years aging in oak , giving them a fabulous earthy woodsy character that is not at all unpleasant. But the iwne to look for is a Rioja Reserva , Gran Reserva or Reserva Especial, made only in vintages with an extraordinary harvest. These wines are aged anywhere from 8 to 10years in barrel and are lovingly cared for. These are wines of exceptional quality and of course are a considerable financial investment for the wineries. In the past the wines have been more than reasonably priced. But don't look for that to continue we are already seeing signs of that changing. But is you come across any of these wines in your travels do not even hesitate to purchase them, as long as you know they are from a reputable wine merchant, they will give you a glimpse at some of the most incredible wines of Spain. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.