I saw that the Spanish winery, Bodegas Rioja Vega launched a new rosé wine, the Rioja Vega 1882 Rosado, and I was very curious about it. This is because rosé wines aren’t typical in the traditional Rioja style; they’re more of the Rioja Moderna style. I was lucky enough that the friendly people at Rioja Vega sent me a bottle of this new rosé to try. I can tell you, it is absolutely an excellent rosé wine! Thanks a lot for sending me this bottle, Rioja Vega!
All the specs of the Rioja Vega 1882 Rosado wine
This wine is made with Garnacha grapes from a selected Rioja Vega plot planted 25 years ago. Harvesting occurs in the early morning, with only a few minutes before the first must is drained. This helps to protect the grapes and maintain their freshness and floral character. The selected plot, Finca ‘La Real,’ is 2.6 hectares of Garnacha at 370 meters altitude. The loam-to-sandy-loam soils favor elegant and aromatic wines.
The wine is made using the “draining” technique, which involves minimal skin maceration as the contact with the skin is very brief. The must is extracted by static draining the grapes without applying pressure. It is then clarified statically at low temperatures to allow solid matter to settle at the bottom of the tank. The clean must is separated and fermented at 15°C for three weeks. After fining and further clarification by racking, the wine is lightly filtered and bottled on 27/02/2024.
Personal tasting notes
I really enjoyed pouring this rosé. It’s bright, pale pink to salmon in color. It’s not your typical dark ruby rosé from Spain or the usual pale Provence rosé.
It’s a soothing wine with a bouquet of white flowers, acacia, anise, and fennel notes, as well as a fruity mix of raspberries, strawberries, and even some blackberry notes. It’s really attractive.
The palate is rich, fresh, and full of spices, flowers, and fresh red fruits. It is very well-balanced, with nice medium (+) acidity, almost no tannins, and just a tiny bit of structure. The raspberries and strawberries are nicely present together with spices, cinnamon, anise, fennel, and a bit of vanilla acacia vibes. It has a long finish with a spicy aftertaste. Elegant, enjoyable, and fresh—just what you need in your glass!
More about Rioja Vega
Rioja Vega, established in 1882 in Spain’s La Rioja region, blends modern and traditional techniques to produce high-quality wines. They are known for their red, white, and rosé varieties. Today, they cultivate 70 hectares of vineyards surrounding the cellars, mirroring the French “château” concept where vineyards and production are closely linked. They emphasize the importance of the land’s unique characteristics (terroir) in shaping their wines.
Rioja Vega has received recognition for its wines, including being named the Best Rioja White Wine for its Tempranillo Blanco Reserva. We’ll have more on that wine in an article soon. Rioja Vega’s dedication to quality and innovation while honoring tradition has earned industry acclaim. Their wines, known for their balance and complexity, reflect the unique characteristics of the Rioja region.
Conclusion
The Rioja Vega 1882 Rosado is a very lovely new rosé wine from the Spanish winery Rioja Vega, known for blending modern and traditional techniques. Made from Garnacha grapes from the Finca ‘La Real’ vineyard, the wine is produced using a “draining” technique with minimal skin contact, preserving its freshness and floral character. It features a bright, pale pink color and offers a bouquet of white flowers, anise, fennel, and a mix of red fruits like raspberries and strawberries. The palate is rich and fresh with balanced acidity, spices, and a long, spicy finish. Rioja Vega’s dedication to quality and innovation is evident in this elegant and enjoyable rosé.
Thanks again for sending me this bottle, Rioja Vega!
More about Rioja Vega: https://www.riojavega.com/