Rioja wines are made in the area surrounding the City of Logrono in Northern Spain. Red, white and rosé wines are produced. D.O.C. Rioja Red wines are classified into four categories.
The first, simply labeled Rioja, is the youngest, spending less than a year in an oak aging barrel. A Crianza is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which was in oak. Rioja Reserva is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Rioja Gran Reserva wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. A Semi-Crianza style, is for the wines that have had a couple of months oak influence but not enough to be called a full Crianza. The designation of Crianza, Reserva etc. might not always appear on the front label but may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
