Spanish term (literally "education" = maturation) for a wine that has been aged for a certain time in oak barrel and bottle before it is allowed to be sold. These wines must have matured for at least 24 months, six months of which must be in oak barrels and the rest in the bottle. Renowned producers often follow the longer maturation periods of Rioja or Ribera del Duero. In the Penedès or Toro areas, many Crianzas are aged for at least 12 months in oak barrels; wines with "only" 6 months of ageing are called Roble or Semi-Crianza, although they fulfil the local Crianza criteria. The Reserva and Gran Reserva quality levels have even longer maturation periods. Sin Crianza" (sin = without) refers to a mostly young wine that has not been aged in barrels. See also under Spain in the section on wine law regulations as well as under ageing.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“