VinoLoverYou may not know it, but wines are categorised according to different factors that determine their taste, quality and origins. For this reason, it is important to know if it is a crianza, reserva or gran reserva wine, to determine which one will best suit our palate.
However, determining these features is a bit confusing, but don’t worry! Today we will tell you each of the characteristics of these types of wines
do you want to know how to identify them correctly? Read on!
How are wines classified?
Unlike other types of alcoholic beverages, wines are classified taking into account several factors that directly influence their taste, body and alcohol content. Some of these are the following:
- Age.
- Sugar level.
- Type of grape from which it was made.
- Alcohol content.
- Type of harvest.
- Origin.
- Ripening time.
All these factors will determine to a great extent the quality of the product we are going to consume, its flavour and the experience we will have when tasting it.
What is a Crianza wine?
We refer to the youngest version of the list, since it is a variety of wine that only has an approximate ageing period of 24 months
They are stored for 6 to 12 months in wooden barrels or casks, and then bottled and spend the rest of their maturation time in their respective bottle, lying horizontally with a cork stopper.
What are the main characteristics of an aged wine?
They are wines with fruity and very aromatic nuances thanks to the properties that the wine acquires during its maturation in barrels. They have a long life span after being distributed, ranging from 5 to 10 years.
On the other hand, rosé or white wines are not considered crianza wines until they have been aged for 18 months. However, the storage time in barrels must be equal to 6 or 12 months.
What is a reserve wine?
In the case of reserve wines, they take a little longer to be elaborated, compared to crianza wines. In order to make a good product of this type, a minimum of 3 years is necessary to produce it. Of which a total of 12 months in barrel or cask, and the rest of the time in bottles with cork stoppers in horizontal position, whose space must have a controlled humidity, temperature and light index.
What are the main characteristics of a reserve wine?
They are wines whose production process originates from the Spanish region of Haro, La Rioja, where this way of making wine became famous many years ago. They are wines with much more complexity, aromas and marked flavours than the previous variety and, their capacity of duration once distributed is also quite high.
They tend to improve over the years and their bottle is sealed with a cork that allows for proper air circulation.
What is a Gran Reserva wine?
They are described as wines of high quality and a well-marked nuance of flavours. Its elaboration or maturation process takes approximately 5 years, of which it spends around 18 months stored in barrels.
However, depending on the needs or tastes of the wineries, these times may vary. This will lead to different nuances of flavour, aromas and alcohol content.
On the other hand, as for the white and rosé wine varieties, they can be considered gran reserva, after a maturation period of approximately 48 months, having been stored in barrel or cask for a minimum of 6 months.
It is a rather rare variety of wine to obtain, due to the arduous nature of its production, but it is one of the most promising wines you will find on the market.
What are the main characteristics of a Gran Reserva wine?
They are wines that usually have a fairly high alcohol content, are bottled in glass containers and a cork is used for sealing. They can last for many years after being distributed and tend to improve in taste over time.
How to identify when a wine is a reserva, gran reserva or crianza?
Without going any further, we must tell you that to determine this point, you should look at the box or label of each one of them. It should contain information such as
- Total ageing time.
- Duration in cask.
- Year of harvest.
All these data, plus the information we have provided you with, will help you to know exactly if a wine is a crianza, reserva or gran reserva.
Which of all of them tastes best?
As far as taste is concerned, you should know that the younger the wine is, the more fruity and subtle the envelopes it will have. As for the varieties that have been matured for a longer time, they will always have more marked flavours and with more properties provided by the wood in the barrel.
Determining which tastes best will depend solely on the tastes of each consumer. You will only have to be faithful to your instinct and choose the one that best suits your palate.
How to identify if a wine is of quality?
This is something very simple to do, and for that you will have to pay attention to the following factors:
Colour
The colour of the wine is the first thing to look at. In the case of white wine, it should be a slightly pale yellow. On the other hand, in the case of red wines, its colour should be violet.
However, the colours will always depend on the type of grape used to make the wine, but this is a strong indicator of the quality of the wine.
Aroma
Although the aroma will vary according to the type of wine, all of them will have an aromatic tendency to fruits, flowers or spices. If a wine does not have an aroma that is characterised by any of these three variants, it is a strong indicator that something is wrong.
Balance
Wines need to perfectly balance factors such as aroma, colour and flavour . Wines that cannot harmonise these three elements are sure to be a poor quality product.
Texture
Wines should always leave a dry taste on your tongue that lingers for a few seconds, and their flavour should also linger in your mouth for a few minutes.
Appearance
Wines should always be crystal clear and bright when served. If a wine has a cloudy and uneven appearance, it is a strong indicator that it is spoiled.
Which type of wine is more expensive?
Well, this is a somewhat complicated subject to explain, since the price of a bottle of wine will always depend on the type of winery from which it has been extracted, its prestige and the type of process it has used in the elaboration of its product.
In another sense, the maturation time of the wines also makes them more or less expensive. For example, a crianza wine will always be a cheaper option than a reserva or gran reserva wine, respectively.
However, factors such as the type of grape used for its elaboration, details of the bottle, country of origin, among other factors, will also be high determinants of the approximate price of a bottle.
As you can see, wines and their classification, in terms of their maturation process, are more complex than we think. Therefore, every time we have a glass of a good wine in front of us, we should enjoy it from the beginning to the end.
VinoLover
Claudio Comella
