DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CRIANZA, RESERVA, AND GRAN RESERVA WINES

¿Sabemos cuál es la diferencia entre un vino crianza y otro que es reserva o gran reserva? Cuando nos iniciamos en el mundo del vino, es posible que tengamos una vaga idea de qué factores condicionan que un vino sea clasificado como crianza, reserva o gran reserva. Si tuviésemos que centrarnos en una sola palabra, podríamos decir que el principal condicionante es el tiempo. Y estaríamos en lo correcto, ya que esta clasificación de los vinos obedece al tiempo de envejecimiento que le han dado en la bodega. Sin embargo, esta clasificación no es universal y esconde algunos matices en los cuales es interesante reparar.
Por ello, vamos a ver qué hace que un vino sea considerado Crianza, Reserva o Gran Reserva y qué características podemos esperar de esa consideración.

Crianza, Reserva y Gran Reserva

The wine classification based on the time the wine spends maturing or aging in the winery is typically Spanish, and will only be found in wines of this origin. Despite the fact most Spanish consumers will use this as a determinant factor of choice when choosing a bottle of wine, it has also sparked some controversy.

There’s always been a disagreement regarding the unification of criteria concerning aging. This is normal because a classification with aging time as the only criteria, without any other type of consideration -the type of wine, vintage, precedence, etc.- would be ineffective. In 2003, there was an attempt to regulate this classification and unify criteria -Law 24/2003 of Vines and Wine, July 10th-; despite its annulment in 2015, most wines fit into the below classification -even if only at guide value-:

Maturation

If we talk about RED WINEwines, those wines with a minimum total ageing period of 24 months, of which at least 6 must be in barrels, fall into the crianza category. In the case of white and rosé wines, the minimum total ageing time drops to 18 months, at least 6 of which must be in barrels. In order to make the whole classification, it was stipulated that the maximum capacity of the barrels should be 330 litres.

Reserva

En cuanto a la categoría reserva, en el caso de los vinos tintos el período total de envejecimiento debe ser de al menos 36 meses, con un mínimo de 12 meses de permanencia en barrica. Para blancos y rosados la cifra sería de 24 meses totales de guarda, de los cuales un mínimo de 6 deben transcurrir en barrica.

Gran Reserva

For red wines, the Gran Reserva category is destined for those that have been aged for a minimum of 60 months. These wines must be aged for a minimum of 18 months in barrel. White and rosé Gran Reserva wines must not be under 48 months, with the first 6 months in wooden casks.

We should add a fourth category for “young” wines, those that can be enjoyed without any aging or maturation in the winery, or that have spent less than 6 months in oak barrels.

The problem with a classification as open as the above is that it can’t equally fit the production of any and all types of wine. In the case of such a universal product -yet also inevitably linked to its place of origin- simply focusing on aging time is inadequate, and one of the reasons the law failed.

Crianza, Reserva y Gran Reserva según la Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja

Hay algunas denominaciones de origen, como la Denominación de Origen Ribera del Duero o la Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja, bajo las cuales se producen vinos de excelente calidad que son especialmente propicios para envejecer durante tiempos de maduración más largos. De esta manera, la permanencia del vino en barrica le transfiere multitud de matices aromáticos de la madera, aporta definición en su textura y condiciona su sabor. Es por ello que en el caso de los vinos de la Denominación de Origen Cualificada Rioja la clasificación de crianza, reserva y gran reserva contempla mayores tiempos de permanencia en barrica, e incluso define el uso de un tipo específico de recipiente: la barrica bordelesa, tradicional en la elaboración de los vinos de la región de Burdeos, con una capacidad de 225 litros, que facilita un mayor contacto del vino con la madera.

Crianza DOCa Rioja

The traditional regulations in Rioja establish a minimum aging period of 24 months for red wines; with the first 12 months spent in oak barriques. For white and rosé wines, the minimum barrel time is 6 months. Any wine with less time in contact with oak is considered “young wine”.

Reserva DOCa Rioja

Para los vinos tintos reserva, para cuya elaboración se utiliza el producto de las mejores añadas, la Denominación de Origen Cualificada Rioja contempla un tiempo de envejecimiento mínimo de 36 meses. De estos, al menos 1 año debe transcurrir en barrica. En el caso de los blancos y rosados, el tiempo total de maduración debe ser igual o mayor a 2 años, con un mínimo de 6 meses en barrica.

Gran Reserva DOCa Rioja

Lastly, only the best vintages are destined to become Gran Reservas, wines that are subject to the longest aging periods in the classification. For reds, the minimum is established at 5 years (24 months in barriques and 36 months in the bottle). For white and rosé, the total must not be under 4 years, with at least 6 months in oak barriques.

Below we can see the characteristics of each type of wine in this table:

Now that we can tell apart a Crianza from a Reserva or Gran Reserva, we can better understand the characteristics of the wine under that name. We will also be able to discern between the aging periods of each category depending on the color of the wine (red, white, or rosé); and differentiate the time requirements for each category according to the precedence -or Denominación de Origen- of each wine. Whichever the case, we must not forget that this classification informs us about the winemaking methods, but does not define a wine’s quality. Hence, we can find exceptional wines, independently of their being assigned to the Young, Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva categories.