304: Rioja Wines Blend the Past and Present with Adam Lechmere

Unreserved Wine Talk

How has Rioja's famous architecture impacted tourism and the international perception of Rioja wines? How does Rioja wine style change in a vintage characterized as an Atlantic year versus a Mediterranean year? How did oak aging become so fundamental to the identity of Rioja wines? What’s driving the resurgence of traditional aging methods, such as concrete tanks?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Adam Lechmere, editor of The Smart Traveler's Wine Guide to Rioja, among other books in this series.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Two of you will win a copy of his terrific new book, Rioja: The Smart Traveller's Wine Guide.

To qualify, email me at [e-mail] and let me know you've posted a podcast review. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

Where did the Rioja focus on oak aging develop?

How do the characteristics imparted by American versus French oak differ?

What do you need to know about the classifications and label regulations for Rioja wine?

What’s driving the resurgence of older aging methods, such as concrete tanks?

How can you differentiate between French Grenache and Spanish Garnacha?

What are some of the key distinguishing characteristics between Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon?

What makes a great vintage in Rioja?

How has Rioja's famous architecture impacted tourism and the international perception of Rioja wines?

Which changes does Adam see coming in Rioja's future?

Key Takeaways

Rioja wines are categorized according to the time they spend aging in oak barrels. American oak is particularly well suited for the country’s flagship red grape, Tempranillo, because it has a slightly wider grain than French oak, so it imparts more flavors.

The resurgence of traditional aging methods, such as concrete tanks, has been driven by changing global trends in wine styles. It's also that Rioja winemakers are forward-looking in their experimentation because they're such pioneers.

You'll find more opulence and generosity in a Mediterranean year, whereas Atlantic-influenced years are more precise and slightly less opulent.

Rioja's architecture has been so famous for so long that it’s hard to know whether tourists visit primarily because of the architecture or the wine.

About Adam Lechmere

Adam Lechmere is the publishing director of Academie du Vin Library, contributing editor to Club Oenologique, and general manager of the Academie du Vin Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving diversity in wine and hospitality worldwide.

Formerly editor of Decanter.com, which he launched in 2000, he has been writing about wine for 25 years, contributing to Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Meininger’s, janeanson.com, the Guardian and other publications; at the end of 2018, he launched Club Oenologique.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/304.