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The wine producing region of Rioja is situated in the Ebro valley. Its northern border is determined by the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range, and in the south by Sierra de la Demanda, and the resulting conditions create a very privileged environment for vineyards.
The 57,000 hectares of vines which currently make up the region of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja are located in three Autonomous Communities, La Rioja, the Basque Country and Navarra. Their average annual yield is 250 million litres, 85% of which is red wine, with the rest whites or rosés.
There are THREE TYPES OF SOIL suitable for growing vines in Rioja: Areas where they are found Porcentage of total surface Characteristics of the ground Characteristics of the wine
1.Chalky clay which is found in Rioja Alavesa, Sonsierra and Rioja Alta with a total surface area 25% of the total
Small, terraced plots which gives wines that are rich in glycerine extracthave good colourand whites with character, light in colour
2.Ferrous clay which is ound in plots throughout the region with a total surface area of 25% of the total. The aspect os mostly sloping. with reddish brown and hard with deep hard rock which givesLight reds with medium bodyand Rosés
3.Alluvial soil found in plots throughout the wine region near rivers with a total surface area of 50% of the total Large, flat plots with good depth and river stones give whites and reds with medium body.
