Vibrations caused a deterioration


We have long, long, stretches of the La Riojan landscape.  What shall we do.  No football to watch.  La Liga is on its winter break,  Since Real Betis took on Rayo Vallecano at 8pm on the 22nd all has gone quiet.  Things properly get going on the 10th January with Rayo v Celta.  But what of Valencia v Real Madrid on the 3rd I hear you cry, somewhat unexpectedly.  This is a postponed fixture caused by the Autumn floods and not, properly, part of the canon.  Alright, I will admit the Copa del Rey is happening from the 3rd January, but the point I’m making is, no football is happening now.  Well, maybe some friendlies but the point I'm making is…….. Lets talk wine.



La Rioja has a DOCa or Qualified Designation of Origin.  The regulation of the wine industry has a long history.  The King of Navarra and Aragon gave the first legal recognition of Rioja wine in 1102.  In 1560, harvesters from Longares chose a symbol to represent the quality of the wines.  Protection was important. In 1635, the mayor of Logroño prohibited the passing of carts through streets near wine cellars, in case the vibrations caused a deterioration of the quality of the wine.  15 years later the first quality protection charters were created.




What with it being the Age of Reason, In 1790, at the inaugural meeting of the Real Sociedad Económica de Cosecheros de La Rioja (Royal Economic Society of Rioja Winegrowers), the worthies looked at to how to construct, fix, and maintain the roads and other forms of access for transportation of wine were discussed. The Society was established to promote the cultivation and commercialisation of Rioja wines and 52 Rioja communities took part.


In 1892, the Viticulture and Enology Station of Haro was founded for quality-control purposes.  In 1902, a Royal Decree determining the origin of Rioja wines was promulgated. The Consejo Regulador (Regulating Council) was created in 1926 with the objective of limiting the zones of production, expanding the warranty of the wine and controlling the use of the name "Rioja". This Council became legally structured in 1945 and was finally inaugurated in 1953.



At last, In 1970, the Regulations for denominación de origen were approved as well as Regulations for the Regulating Council.  In 1991, the prestigious "Calificada" (Qualified) nomination was awarded to La Rioja, making it Spain's first denominación de origen calificada (DOCa).




That;sit.  Enjoy the view.




























 

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