”Monopole” Blanco Seco 2018

Rioja in northern Spain is best known for its barrel-aged, berry-flavored red wines made from Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes. Undoubtedly, this is the largest wine-growing region in Spain. And, by far, the most famous region of the country. All vineyards are concentrated around the banks of the Ebra River. Their area is about 64,000 hectares, of which 91% are planted with red grapes. Rioja itself is divided into three parts: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja East. Rioja Alta is located in the western part of Rioja. As the name suggests, the vineyards are located higher in the region than Rioja Baja. The soils contain more clay, iron and alluvial elements and less limestone than the neighboring soils in Alavesa. Wines are considered elegant, with balanced acidity. Rioja Alavesa consists of two separate parcels of land located next to Rioja Alta. The vineyards are at the same elevation as Rioja Alta and the microclimate is also very similar. However, soils tend to contain more limestone than Alta, so wines can have higher acidity. In eastern Rioja (Rioja Baja), the climate is much more strongly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. It is drier and warmer here than in the other two parts of the region. Here, more emphasis is placed on the Garnacha variety. Wines can be fuller than in neighboring sub-regions.