🏷️ Crianza

Crianza is a Spanish category of red wine based on ageing. The name comes from the word for "raising", as the wine is "brought up". Under general rules, red crianza is aged for at least two years, at least six months of it in oak barrels. The rest of the time the wine spends in the bottle.

In Rioja and Ribera del Duero the rules are stricter: the wine must spend at least a year in oak. Ageing gives the wine softness and notes of vanilla, spice and dried fruit. It is the step after young wine, which has shorter ageing. Above it stands Reserva, and alongside are young wine without ageing and Roble, which only briefly saw oak.

Crianza is part of the general Spanish ageing system. It does not depend on the grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha or other wines may carry the term. It is a guide for buyers: the higher the level, the longer the wine was aged before sale. Taste and price depend on the producer and the vintage.