READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
La Rioja Alta: Two varieties of Viña Ardanza
La Rioja Alta is a Rioja producer founded in 1890 by five families around Aro station. One of their flagship wines is Viña Ardanza. Although the producer name includes 'Rioja Alta,' the grapes used are not limited to that district; different plots are selected for each wine.
The two grape varieties in Viña Ardanza 2019 differ in both their regions of origin and time spent in barrel. Let’s break down the description of the finished wine according to the processing for each raw material.
Questions for this course
Based on a winery name, can you assume the origin of the grapes is from a single region?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓La Rioja Alta, S.A. / Learn by producer
Spain / Rioja / Haro
Aliases & spellings: La Rioja Alta, S.A. / La Rioja Alta / La Rioja Alta / Viña Ardanza / Viña Ardanza
Update date: 2026-09-27
2019 is Tempranillo and Garnacha
Viña Ardanza 2019 is made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. The Tempranillo comes from La Cuesta in Fuenmayor and Montesilla in Cenicero, while the Garnacha is from La Pedriza in Tudelilla, Rioja Oriental. If you separate the location of the producer from the origins of the grapes, you can see the geographical diversity of the blend.
The barrel material is the same, but the aging duration differs.
In this year, American oak barrels made in the producer’s own cooperage were used; Tempranillo matured for 36 months and Garnacha for 30 months. If both periods are noted on the finished bottle, it is because the base wines were handled separately by variety. You cannot add 36 and 30 to claim the wine was matured for 66 months in barrel.
Distinguish between vintage year and bottling year
In the documentation, the 2019 harvest and bottling in December 2023 are stated. Do not simply describe the period from harvest to bottling as all barrel aging; interpret it as a process that includes fermentation and maturation by grape variety. Considering how this long time is spent takes your explanation beyond simply 'a matured Rioja.'
What to align and what to compare.
Geography
- Conditions to standardize
- Viña Ardanza 2019
- Conditions for comparison.
- Vineyards of Tempranillo and Garnacha
- Additional points to confirm
- Are you confusing the producer name with the name of the district where the grapes are sourced?
Barrel aging.
- Conditions to standardize
- Both use American oak.
- Conditions for comparison.
- 36 months for one variety, 30 months for another.
- Additional points to confirm
- Whether consecutive steps use the same liquid, or whether each base wine follows its own process.
Meaning of the vintage (year)
- Conditions to standardize
- The same bottle's history.
- Conditions for comparison.
- 2019 harvest and bottling in December 2023
- Additional points to confirm
- Can you distinguish the time spent in containers other than barrels?
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
0 / 3 articles completed
Next article →Progress is recorded as the completion of reading articles. This does not include completion of explanatory assignments.
- 1↗
Spain
Rioja: Interpreting the three regions and ageing
Organize the Rioja appellation by geography.
- 2↗
Spain
Compare two Rioja wines on a two-axis chart
Distinguish the meaning of maturation indications from the process of individual products.
- 3↗
Spain
Connect major varieties to regions and winemaking processes.
Check the complementary varieties with Tempranillo.
READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
La Rioja Alta study guide: Two varieties of Viña Ardanza
Compare the stated conditions in the documentation. Numbers specifying vintages should be treated as information for that specific year.
This summarizes materials published by producers, regional groups, and importers. Each source includes the publisher and the date the material was checked.
| Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha | Garnacha is from La Pedriza in Rioja Oriental. |
| 2019 barrel maturation | 36 months Tempranillo, 30 months Garnacha | Both use American oak. Do not add the two periods together. |
| Bottling | December 2023 | Distinguish from the 2019 vintage. |
Each hypothesis or reflection can be up to 2,000 characters. You can save your answers even if you only select an option.
Manually save to this browser. When you reopen, you can continue from where you left off. This is a separate record from the course explanation task notes. If you save with all fields unselected or blank, this exercise record will be deleted.
Read the explanation for each question
By answering in the selection field, you can compare your answers and explanations using the top button. Freeform responses will not be automatically graded.
What is the origin of the Garnacha in 2019?
Garnacha comes from La Pedriza in Tudelilla. Even if the producer is La Rioja Alta, the grapes for this label are not necessarily limited to this district. To avoid confusion, check the producer's address, company name, and grape origin separately.
How do you interpret 36 months and 30 months?
36 months refers to Tempranillo, 30 months refers to Garnacha barrel aging. The base wines with different aging periods are blended in the finished wine. It does not mean the same liquid spent two periods consecutively, so do not sum them.
What does December 2023 indicate?
The technical sheet states bottling took place in December 2023. The wine's year display, 2019, refers to the harvest. As bottling may include several steps, do not equate the difference in years directly to the length of barrel aging.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Please explain differences in raw materials and winemaking by reading the table and sources.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material | 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha | Garnacha is from La Pedriza in Rioja Oriental. | |
| 2019 barrel maturation | 36 months Tempranillo, 30 months Garnacha | Both use American oak. Do not add the two periods together. | |
| Bottling | December 2023 | Distinguish from the 2019 vintage. |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please explain the Varieties, origins of raw materials, and periods of barrel aging for Viña Ardanza 2019, pairing each appropriately.
Check after writing
- Garnacha comes from La Pedriza in Tudelilla. Even if the producer is La Rioja Alta, the grapes for this label are not necessarily limited to this district. To avoid confusion, check the producer's address, company name, and grape origin separately.
- 36 months refers to Tempranillo, 30 months refers to Garnacha barrel aging. The base wines with different aging periods are blended in the finished wine. It does not mean the same liquid spent two periods consecutively, so do not sum them.
- The technical sheet states bottling took place in December 2023. The wine's year display, 2019, refers to the harvest. As bottling may include several steps, do not equate the difference in years directly to the length of barrel aging.
Save response to explanation task
Compare your initial thoughts with how they have changed after reading the article.
Maximum 5,000 characters. This is stored within this browser. Press "Save" to record your note. Saving a blank will delete this note.
View saved notes →