Summary

About the Speaker

Peter Arijs is the educational and global project manager for the DOCa Rioja. Peter holds a Ph.D. in engineering from Ghent University (Belgium) and has been working in wine education for several years. He obtained the WSET Diploma in 2020 with a distinction grade, for which he was awarded the Royal Tokaji Award. He is also a certified educator for the Spanish Wine Scholar program of Wine Scholar Guild.

Timestamps

Welcome and Introduction (00:00)   

Justin welcomes everyone and introduces Peter Arjis as the host of the webinar. 

Overview of Webinar Goals (00:01)   

Peter outlines the purpose of the webinar, focusing on recent developments in the Rioja wine region. 

Background on Peter Arjis (00:02)   

Peter shares his background, including his role and experience in the Rioja region. 

Statistics on Rioja (00:03)   

Discussion of Rioja's significance as the largest and oldest wine region in Spain, including commercialization stats. 

Classification System of Rioja (00:04)   

Peter explains Rioja's classification system and its three subregions. 

Historical Context of Rioja (00:05)   

Peter highlights Rioja's history and its pioneering role in barrel aging and wine estate concepts. 

Geography and Diversity of Rioja (00:06)   

Overview of Rioja's diverse landscape, altitudes, and soil types affecting winemaking. 

Wine Styles and Aging Criteria (00:07)   

Discussion on wine styles available in Rioja, including aging categories and their significance. 

Grape Varieties in Rioja (00:08)   

Peter introduces the 14 grape varieties permitted in Rioja, including recent additions. 

Historical Changes in Grape Varieties (00:09)   

Focus on the major changes in grape varieties approved in the last two decades. 

Introduction of New White Grape Varieties (00:11)   

Peter discusses the approval of new white grape varieties and their impact on Rioja's wine styles. 

Tempranillo Blanco and Other Varieties (00:12)   

Exploration of the characteristics and significance of Tempranillo Blanco and other new varieties. 

Growth of White Wine Production (00:17)   

Peter mentions Rioja's rise as the second-largest white wine appellation in Spain. 

Red Grape Varieties and Recent Additions (00:18)   

Discussion on the introduction of Maturana Tinta and its implications for red wine production. 

Shift Towards Mono Varietal Wines (00:19)   

Peter notes the increasing trend of producing mono varietal wines in Rioja. 

Classification of New Wine Styles (00:20)   

Introduction of a new structure for categorising wines based on origin and style. 

Introduction to Rioja Wine Zones (00:23)   

Discussion on the three Rioja zones and labeling regulations for wines produced in these areas. 

Labelling and Traceability Regulations (00:24)   

Explanation of traceability requirements for labels and the importance of accurate labeling in Rioja. 

Renaming Rioja Baja to Rioja Oriental (00:25)   

Overview of the decision to rename Rioja Baja to Rioja Oriental to improve perception of quality. 

Old Regulations for Village Wines (00:26)   

Description of previous regulations for village wines and the need for production in the same town. 

Changes in Village Wine Regulations (00:28)   

Introduction of new regulations allowing more flexibility in labelling village wines. 

Vino de Pueblo Concept (00:29)   

Explanation of the new Vino de Pueblo concept and its significance for Rioja wines. 

Single Vineyard Wines (00:32)   

Discussion of the Vineyard Singular concept and its quality standards for wine production. 

Back Label Regulations for Vino de Pueblo (00:35)   

Overview of new back label designs for Vino de Pueblo wines and their aging classifications. 

Sparkling Wines in Rioja (00:36)   

Introduction of sparkling wine regulations and historical context for sparkling wine production in Rioja. 

Labelling Terms for Old Vineyards (00:39)   

Explanation of labelling terms related to vineyard age and the transition to stricter regulations. 

Trends in White Wine Production (00:41)   

Discussion on the rising popularity of white wines and their varying styles in Rioja. 

Focus on Vineyard Quality (00:43)   

Emphasis on improving vineyard practices and expressing terroir in wine production. 

Climate Change and Grape Varieties (00:44)   

Impact of climate change on grape varieties and the potential for new wine expressions. 

Overview of Vintage 2021 (00:45)   

Discussion on the warm 2021 vintage, its yield, and ratings from the consejo. 

Vintage 2022 Challenges (00:46)   

Insights into the warm 2022 vintage, yield reduction, and vineyard stress factors. 

Production and Regulations for 2024 (00:47)   

Details on the low production for 2024 and regulations impacting yield. 

Weather Impact on Harvest (00:48)  

Adverse weather conditions affecting the 2024 harvest and the response of growers. 

Quality Assessment of 2024 Wines (00:50)   

Initial tasting results show promising quality for the 2024 vintage despite challenges. 

Diversity in Rioja Wines (00:51)   

Discussion on the importance of exploring the diversity of wines in Rioja. 

Commercial Factors in Grape Variety Introduction (00:52)   

Insights into the commercial and viticultural motivations behind new grape varieties. 

Challenges Facing Rioja (00:53)   

Addressing misconceptions about Rioja and the challenges of market perception. 

Future Changes in Rioja Designations (00:56)   

Discussion on potential future changes in Rioja's wine designations and categories. 

Closing Remarks and Future Engagement (00:58)   

Final thanks to Peter and an invitation for future discussions on Rioja.