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Wine
WineType of grape
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Type of grape
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Production area
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WineWineType of grape-
Type of grape
- Verdejo
- Tempranillo
- Chardonnay
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Riesling
- Sangiovese
- Pinot noir
- Syrah
- Grenache
WineProduction area-
Production area
- Ribera de Duero
- Rioja
- Priorat
- Bordeaux
- Burgundy
- Loire valley
- Douro
- Piedmont
- Tuscany
- Mendoza
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Sparkling wine
Sparkling wineProduction area
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Production area
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Sparkling wineRatings-
Ratings
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Sparkling wineSugar level-
Sugar level
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Sparkling wineDiscover more-
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Sparkling wineSparkling wineProduction area-
Production area
- Champagne
- Cava
- Prosecco
- Lambrusco
- Moscato d'Asti
- Franciacorta
- Corpinnat
Sparkling wineRatings-
Ratings
- Rated by Parker
- Rated by Decántalo
Sparkling wineSugar level-
Sugar level
- Champagne Brut
- Champagne Brut Nature
- Champagne Extra Brut
- Cava Brut
- Cava Brut Nature
- Cava Extra Brut
Sparkling wineDiscover more-
Discover more
- Champagne in Magnum format
- Cava in Magnum format
- Top 10 Champagne
- Top 10 Cava
- Give cava and champagne
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Crianza wine
Buy crianza wines online
Crianza wine have undergone a minimum ageing process of 24 months, of which at least 6 months have to be in oak barrels, or 12 months for Rioja and Ribera de Duero, with the remainder of the ageing process taking place in bottles. A Crianza wine has been tamed and aged, but still retains a touch of freshness, nerve and power. With a Crianza wine the flavours are earthy and remain closer to the grape than the barrel, although its presence can ever so subtly be sensed. Crianza wines are the perfect balance of fruit and oak wood.
We often hear about wine aging or aged wine, but what exactly is wine aging? And what is an aged wine?
When we talk about wine aging, we are talking about the aging process and how wine develops over time. Wine can be aged in barrels, vats made of different materials or in the bottle. Wine is expected to improve, refine and settle during this process, as well as develop unique and dominant aromas. Aging wines can also make them longer-living.
It is important to remember that a wine’s aging potential and aptitude depend on many factors, from cultivation in the vineyard, the climate of a particular year, the vineyard’s soil, production, winemaking methods… all of these factors influence and determine a wine’s aging ability. Aging and good development will only work with a certain level of quality both in the vineyard and in the winery.
As well as that, the crianza wine denomination in Spain classifies wines according to how long they have been aged. This label is only given to reds that have aged for a total of 24 months before being sold, at least 6 of which must have been in barrels with a maximum size of 330 litres. Whites and rosés must have aged for 18 months with a minimum of 6 months in the barrel. However, there is an exception. With DOCa Rioja red wines, the criteria for being classed as a crianza red wine are slightly different. Here, the wine must spend at least 12 months in the barrel and 12 in the bottle before being sold, the minimum time spent in the barrel is longer than in the rest of Spain.
Because of the production methods used, aged wines show some characteristics of young wine, but they also begin to display certain attributes that can only be achieved through aging. Some aromas gained from aging might be: nuts, honey, dried flowers, chamomile, dried apricots, undergrowth, truffle, mushrooms, heather, cocoa, tobacco, liquorice, vanilla, oak, toast...
Now you know a bit more about crianza wines. Why not take a look at our selection!