Rioja is one of Spain’s best known wine regions, with a long history of producing red wines from Tempranillo and aging them in oak. But if you’ve ever picked up a bottle of Rioja, you’ve probably also noticed words like Crianza on the label. What do they actually tell you about the wine inside?
Our Lot 175 Rioja Crianza gives us a great bottle to explore the region, its signature grape, and why time in oak is such an important part of the Rioja story.
Exploring Rioja and Tempranillo
Located in Northern Spain, Rioja is particularly known for its oak aged red wines. Tempranillo is one of the grapes closely associated with the region, and Lot 175 is made from 100% Tempranillo.
The grapes for Lot 175 grow in hillside vineyards of the Sierra de Yerga, near the Rio Oja, where vines are planted in limestone and rocky soils at elevations reaching up to 2,400 feet.
Why does elevation matter?
As vineyard conditions change, so does the way grapes ripen. For Lot 175, the grapes are handpicked once they reach optimal ripeness, helping develop tannins, balanced structure, and the ability to age.
In the glass, Lot 175 shows fresh cherry, strawberry, and dried cranberry, along with floral notes and lingering dried herbs. It is full bodied, but its plush fruit and elegant texture make it approachable enough to enjoy now.
What Does Crianza Mean?
This is where understanding the label can tell you more about what you’re about to drink.
Crianza is an aging designation used for Rioja wines. Rather than being the name of a grape, it tells you that the wine has gone through a period of aging before release.
For Lot 175 Rioja Crianza, that includes more than a year spent aging in oak.
Oak aging can influence both the flavor and texture of a wine. With Tempranillo, time in oak adds another dimension to the grape’s fruit driven character, helping create the balance of ripe fruit, spice, and structure that makes Rioja such a distinctive style.
So when you see “Crianza” on a bottle of Rioja, you’re getting an important clue about how the wine was made before you even pull the cork.
Finding Your Style of Rioja
One of the most interesting things to learn about Rioja is that bottles can carry different aging classifications. Crianza is just one of them, and understanding those terms can make exploring the wine aisle a lot easier.
As Rioja spends more time aging, its character can evolve. Fresh fruit can begin to share the spotlight with more developed flavors and aromas, while tannins and texture can change over time.
The beauty of Rioja is that each aging style brings something different to the glass, from fresh, vibrant fruit to more developed flavors and complexity.
Lot 175 Rioja Crianza offers a great introduction to that balance. There is plenty of fresh and plush red fruit, with cherry, strawberry, and dried cranberry at the forefront, while dried herbs and the influence of oak add another layer.
The next time you open a bottle of Rioja, start with the label. Look for the grape, where the wine comes from, and its aging designation. Then see if you can find those clues again in the glass.
And if Rioja is new to you, Crianza is a pretty delicious place to start.
