Vintage 2006 in Rioja

 

The Rioja Regulatory Council has forecasted promising results for the 2006 vintage despite uneven ripening conditions during the harvest. 

 

Speaking on behalf of the Regulatory Council, Ricardo Aguiriano said, “The responsible attitude of growers and oenologists together with the Regulatory Council’s strict control measures has helped to optimise wine quality this year. Limiting yields and adopting strict vineyard management practices, including cluster thinning and selective picking during harvest, has maintained the quality of recent years and delivers consistency and confidence in Rioja for the future.”

 

The Rioja harvest yielded 416 million kilos of grapes from 60,415 hectares within the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) Rioja. This was a more moderate harvest than the previous year which recorded yields of 444.74 million kilos.   Restricting yields to 6,500 kg per hectare for red grapes and 9,000 hectares has secured optimum grape quality and an overall positive result.

 

Water accumulation during the winter resulted in good canopy development in spring, whilst high temperatures and drought conditions during the summer favoured ripening. In terms of plant health and development, the condition of the vines prior to harvesting (which began on September 1) was quite good. Harvesting was staggered and selective due to the uneven ripening development of each vineyard but finished on October 27 with generally positive results.

 

A magnetic card (similar in size to a credit card) which was first introduced by the Rioja Regulatory Council this year to replace the traditional grape growers’ record book has provided significant advancement. This has helped communicate new information and advancements in technology to growers as well as record data. Backed by traditional control measures already in place by the Regulatory Council, which include weekly checks at representative wineries, plus a team of 200 supervisors appointed during the harvest to record the weight and alcohol potential of grape batches at wineries, has established strict quality controls in the region.

 

 “We are optimistic for the 2006 vintage which will be classified by the Regulatory Council in spring next year,” continued Aguiriano. “With a run of great vintages and two exceptional years on record (2004 and 2005), we are hoping the popularity of Rioja continues its positive trend in the UK with shipments for the first 9 months up almost 17% over the same period last year.” (January – September 2006)

 

2006 RIOJA HARVEST REPORT

 

Following a satisfactory dormant period with moderate rainfall, the Rioja Regulatory Council reported 100% primary bud break in most areas. Fertility was quite high for Viura (1 – 1.1), Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo (1.1- 1.6) and between 1.4 and 1.9 for Garnacha. By mid June the vines were set, a year ahead of 2005, although slightly irregular for Garnacha which suffered some coulure.

 

Rainfall was even and sufficient to cover bud burst to setting. Hail was recorded in several areas of Rioja Alta, most seriously in Badaran and Cordovin, and in the Aldeanueva and Alfaro regions. Out of 2,000 hectares which were affected, only 300 hectares suffered serious damage. Storms also hit locations around El Villar de Arnedo affecting 540 hectares.

 

By late July canopies were slightly more advanced and healthy. With rainfall producing larger than normal canopies, the risk of mildew in leaves and clusters, red mite and grape moths were ever present. Growers had to make considerable efforts in the vineyards to fight off these negative factors at this time. Using comparative data on 110 reference vineyards in Rioja, the Regulatory Council recorded lower production figures in red and white grapes around this time but better water reserves provided optimism that similar production figures could be achieved.

 

A drier August, tempered with a few storms, was accompanied with a temperate climate. Vine development slowed down losing its lead over the previous year’s results. Dry sunny weather with moderate day time temperatures and cool nights were recorded late August providing the ideal conditions to conclude berry maturation.

 

The harvest began with Tempranillo in Alfaro on 1 September followed by Aldeanueva de Ebro and Azagra. This extended throughout the eastern area of Rioja for Viura and some red varieties. At the beginning of September temperatures rose dramatically paralysing development which affected the colour parameters and made selective picking necessary. White grapes were picked in the central part of Rioja whilst the red harvest continued uninterrupted from the end of September through early October with moderate results. Glucometric development was normal but slow for phenols. Good weather continued and the grapes arrived at the wineries in good condition. By mid October, 90% of the grapes had been picked before unsettled weather returned to the region. The last clusters were picked on October 27.

JR: I tasted a handful of red Riojas the night before last, including the very warm and rich Finca Valpiedra Reserva 2000 and the most impressive was Vina Ijalba Graciano Crianza 2004 which has a lovely freshness as well as the mulberry fruit of the relatively rare Graciano/Morrastel grape grown in Rioja and occasionally found in southern France.