🏷️ Gran Reserva

Gran Reserva is the top ageing category in Spain. It is used for red wine from the best harvests that is aged at least five years before sale. The word reserva in Spanish means reserve: the wine was set aside and given time.

Ageing rules are set by law. Of the five years, at least 18 months must be in oak barrels, and in Rioja two years. The rest of the time the wine spends in bottle in the producer's cellar. The wine is then released ready to drink. Gran Reserva is not made every year, only in the best harvests, so there are few bottles.

Gran Reserva stands above Reserva and Crianza in the Spanish ageing system. It is an important part of Spanish wine, especially in Ribera del Duero and Rioja. Such wines are usually soft, with aromas of dried fruit, leather, vanilla and spice. They can be kept for many more years and are served at room temperature.