Rioja Crianza Wine: Styles, 10 Best Bottles, Crianza vs Reserva & Gran Reserva

Crianza refers to a class of aged Spanish Rioja wine. 

Most Crianza wines are red, but you can find some exquisite white labels too. 

While red Crianza is made from the Tempranillo grape, white Crianza styles use the Viura, Malvasía, and Garnacha Blanca grape varieties. Both wine styles offer you a vivid palate of fruit flavors with just the right touch of oak!

Let’s discover all about Crianza wine, 10 great bottles, best foods to pair with them, and some intriguing facts about Spain’s Rioja wine region.

What is Crianza Wine and How Is It Made?

Crianza is a Rioja wine aged in an oak barrel for 6 months to a year. 

Red and white Crianzas are aged a bit differently:

• Red Crianza: At least one year in American oak barrels (or French oak barrels) and six months in the bottle
• White Crianza: The oak aging in the cask lasts for at least six months.

The fermentation of the harvested grape varieties occurs in temperature-controlled small stainless steel tanks for 12 days. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation. 

The final step is the aging process which results in an elegant final wine with earthy aromas and rich fruit flavors. 

You can enjoy Crianza wines after cellaring for up to five years, but they are best when served young.

Crianza vs. Reserva and Gran Reserva

The other two categories of aged Rioja wines are:

• Reserva: Reserva is aged for a year in American oak barrels and two years in the bottle. 

• Gran Reserva: Gran Reserva goes a step further, with two years of oak cask aging followed by three years in the bottle. 

White Gran Reserva wines are aged for a year in an oak barrel and three years in a bottle.

Both the Reserva and Gran Reserva extended aging lend rich oak notes to the wine and make it ideal for long-term cellaring (15 to 20 years) - unlike Crianza wine, which is best drunk young. 

10 Outstanding Crianza Wines 

Here’s a list of some exceptional vintages of Crianza wine you can buy in 2022:

1. 1990 Tinto Pesquera Crianza ($106)
2. 1994 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia 'Vina Cubillo' Crianza ($69)
3. 2006 Bodegas Muga Reserva - Crianza ($60)
4. ​​1989 Marques de Caceres Crianza ($58)
5. 2010 Condado de Haza Crianza ($57)
6. 2009 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia 'Vina Gravonia' Crianza Blanco ($54)
7. 2003 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza ($49)
8. 2014 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza ($37)
9. 2011 Torres 'Pago del Cielo' Celeste Crianza ($30)
10. 2019 CVNE 'Cune' Crianza ($16)

1. 1990 Tinto Pesquera Crianza ($106)

This beautiful Rioja wine from Ribera del Duero has soft tannins with fresh raspberry aromas. It boasts a delicious palate of blackcurrant and blueberry flavors. 

2. 1994 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia 'Vina Cubillo' Crianza ($69)

Here’s a remarkable Spanish wine that opens with spice and plum aromas offset by delicious red fruit notes.

3. 2006 Bodegas Muga Reserva - Crianza ($60)

This Tempranillo wine presents a magnificent blueberry nose with hints of cherry and black fruit flavors. 

​​4. 1989 Marques de Caceres Crianza ($58)

Here’s a fine wine with balanced acidity, soft tannins, bitter chocolate, and oak aromas. The fresh raspberry and vanilla undertones elevate this medium-bodied vintage.

5. 2010 Condado de Haza Crianza ($57)

Dark red in color, this savory Ribera del Duero wine boasts a spice aroma in a tantalizing palate of red fruit flavors.

6. 2009 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia 'Vina Gravonia' Crianza Blanco ($54)

This is a lush white wine with grilled fruit aromas and honey undertones. The palate exudes elegance with its nuanced apricot, melon, and marmalade notes.

7. 2003 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza ($49)

Here’s an exciting Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignonred wine blend suffused with vanilla and spice aromas in a lovely palate of plum and cherry.

8. 2014 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza ($37)

This stunning Tempranillo wine has fresh raspberry, blackcurrant, and faint oak flavors. The vintage also presents a vivid smoke, tobacco, and herb aroma.

9. 2011 Torres 'Pago del Cielo' Celeste Crianza ($30)

Here’s a wine with balanced acidity complemented by leather and red fruit aromas in a gorgeous black cherry and blueberry palate. 

10. 2017 CVNE 'Cune' Barrel Fermented Blanco ($12)

This creamy white wine offers complexity and elegance with its mesmerizing almond, apple, and cinnamon palate and subtle acidity.

Best Food Pairing with Crianza Wine

Given its diverse flavor spectrum, you can pair Crianza wines with a variety of foods.

The red Crianza wines complement lamb, chorizo, red meat, game, and cheese burgers.

You can relish white Crianzas with pasta, salmon, pork, roast chicken, mushroom, and miso soup.

Interesting Facts about the Rioja Wine Region

Here are some fascinating facts about the picturesque Rioja region:

• Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region that primarily produces Grenache and Tempranillo grape varieties. Mazuelo, Graciano, Viura, and Malvasía are the other grapes grown in the region.

• The major Rioja vineyard plots are spread over the Sierra de Yega slopes at an altitude of about 2,400 feet.

• Hot summers and cool winters characterize the vineyard terroir and facilitate grape ripening. The Rioja region is composed of limestone and calcareous clay soil types.

Crianza: The Best Affordable Rioja Wine

The Crianza label represents a range of approachable flavor-rich Spanish wines. Get hold of a beautiful Crianza red or white to seduce your guests over dinner. 

But if you’d rather build a portfolio of investment-worthy Rioja and other fine wines, visit the Vinovest website. It is a trusted online platform to buy, store, and sell exceptional vintages from around the world.