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Southern Mama
Ingredients and Preparation 2 cups (500 mL) cold milk 1 medium-size ripe banana, peeled and quartered 1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen orange juice concentrate (or more to taste) Blend ingredients together on high speed until smooth and...
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The Rise of Rioja Wines

For many people Spanish wine either means cava - their excellent local sparkling wine made by the same traditional method as the finest champagnes – or Rioja, the famous red full of ripe fruit flavours and delicious creamy vanilla.

The name itself refers to wines grown in the Rioja region of North Eastern Spain which is near the River (or Rio) Oja, hence the name. Few other wines get the same exposure as the Riojas so it is easy to forget the number of other great Spanish wines that there are available, which is not surprising really as Spain has the highest acreage under vine in the world and consequently a number of very different and very interesting wine regions.

One of the main selling points of Rioja wines are their consistent high quality. It is probably a testament to the Rioja Regulatory Council that the quality control is generally so good that people know if they spend $13 or $14 on a bottle that they are pretty much guaranteed a good one.

Rioja wines are made from the Tempranillo grape, which is sometimes supplemented with Garnacha, Graciano, or Mazuelo and the actual wine is divided into four main categories based on whole long the wine is aged for.

After the most basic version of the wine, simply called Rioja, the categories are as follows :

Crianza : Spends at least one year in oak and several months in the bottle.

Reserva : These wines are aged for a minimum total of three years which includes at least one year in oak.

Gran Reserva : Aged for at least five years with a minimum of two years in oak and three in the bottle.

And despite these old classifications of the wine, Rioja is adapting to the impact and


competition of New World wines from places such as Chile and Australia.

The vineyards are aware of the demands of the younger customer - newer wine drinkers who prefer more fruit driven wines with less oak anf higher levels of alcohol.

The other main competition to Rioja wines are from vineyards in other parts of Spain itself. Areas such as La Mancha, Toro and Jumilla are fast making reputations for themselves for wines in the Rioja style but without the price tag.

La Mancha however has a little bit of an image problem to address due to in the past churning out high volumes of lower quality wine which spoiled its reputation.

Nowadays however you can pick up some excellent Rioja quality wines from the region for under $13 and even blind taste tests cannot pick out the true Rioja from some of the newer Spanish vineyards.

One of the best qualities of Rioja wines is that they tend to taste just as good at home as they do when drunk in Spain in summertime with tapas on a terrace, so drinking often leads to pleasurable associations and memories.

Indeed Rioja goes brilliantly with all types of food, while also tasting just as good on its own as a treat in the early evening.

If you like your wine smooth and fruity with creamy vanilla oak flavours then Rioja could be the wine you are looking for. Give it a try instead of your usual wine this month – you will not be disappointed.


About the Author

Fraser Neilson is webmaster at www.FairWine.com and a graduate of the Wines and Spirits Education Trust. You can find some great wine resources and special offers to help improve your enjoyment over at www.FairWine.com/resources.html.

 

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Content Menu
  • 10 great wine tasting tips

  • 16 quick tips for eating at restaurants or work

  • 4000 year old secrets of green tea

  • aging gracefully

  • all about entertaining with food and wine

  • american fast food restaurants

  • and you thought coffee was bad for you

  • an idiots guide to wine tasting

  • an introduction to wine

  • australian bbq recipes

  • australian wines

  • australia is more than jacobs creek

  • autumn cooking great fall recipes and tips

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  • a guide to gourmet coffee

  • a guide to wine racks

  • a perfect cup of coffee

  • bakers racks add flair and style to your kitchen

  • barbeque grilling has reached a whole new dimension

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  • basque cuisine

  • beer and food pairings

  • blended and varietal wines

  • blue cheese omnivorous

  • braised fish in soy sauce hong shao yu

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  • build your own wine rack in an afternoon

  • buying wine how to read a wine label

  • buy fine wine at great prices a strategy

  • champagne wine

  • change your diet and eat the mediterranean way

  • cheese explore a new taste

  • chicken breasts with spicy rub

  • chicken with white wine pasta

  • chilean wine history and style

  • chinese dumplings on chinese new year

  • chocolate is good for you

  • choosing a wine gift basket

  • choosing wine on a first date

  • choosing wine to match food

  • christmas recipes main dishes no 9 of 12 duck with cardamom sauce

  • class on glass

  • coffee characteristics and how it helps you choose the perfect coffee for you

  • coffee everything you need to know from arabica to zanzibar

  • coffee is it getting too complicated

  • coffee with class

  • come home to comfort food

  • corks for wine

  • creating the perfect foam

  • cuban thanksgiving from our latin table

  • cucumber pork soup

  • delicoious swordfish

  • determining if a wine is spoiled

  • do you know these little known facts about tuscany wines

  • easy summer salads lighter foods for a brighter summer

  • ediths cake that thrilled the french

  • emu the natural alternativee for the backyard grill

  • enjoy colorado wines

  • enjoy your favorite winebut with some rules

  • experience the joy of eating at a restaurant

  • fall for outdoor entertaining this autumn

  • family life or wine for christmas dy

  • fantastic fruit

  • fine dining at the ark of las vegas lutece and tsunami asian grill

  • fondue 101 how to make cheese fondue

  • foods to avoid that cause bad breath

  • food and drink what to expect in costa rica

  • food and wine choice advice from an expert wine taster

  • formula for successful wedding party

  • french wine

  • french wine laws

  • fresh fare from the food isle ireland

  • from prix fixe to cold tea a glossary of popular and obscure restaurant terms

  • german wine the new commodity on the american market

  • get to grips with your wines

  • gift of the month clubs the lazy mans guide to gift giving

  • give a fondue party

  • gourmet a defining moment

  • gourmet centerpieces

  • gourmet coffee beans a brief overview

  • gourmet goodies

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  • grigio or gris this is a great white wine

  • grilled scallops with ginger lime sauce

  • guide to buying wine glasses

  • guide to tasting wine

  • hans is author of steaks seafood and

  • have a wine and cheese shower or party

  • have you bought your first case of wine yet

  • healthy fondue a guide to making broth and hot oil fondues

  • healthy seafood recipe

  • health benefits of tea

  • helens homemade fishcakes recipe

  • helens pan fried seabass

  • history of hawaiian coffee

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  • holiday cookie exchange

  • homemade christmas gifts from the kitchen make your own holiday gift baskets

  • honey dijon glazed ribs

  • hosting a wine party

  • hosting a wine tasting party

  • hot fun in the summertime

  • how sparkling wine is made

  • how to begin wine collecting

  • how to be creative when you are cooking

  • how to brew your own beer

  • how to grow grapes for excellent wine

  • how to host a memorable july 4th barbecue and have fun too

  • how to host a wine party

  • how to make beer

  • how to order wine in a restaurant

  • how to store wine

  • how wine is made

  • index

  • introduction to italian wine

  • in grandmas kitchen part i

  • in praise of the humble salad

  • in time for summer blue danube wine company introduces refreshing new varietals from hungary the craftsmane series from hilltop neszmely winery

  • is your italian olive oil really italian

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  • the stuff of poetry mead

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  • understanding the basics of wine tasting

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