Editing Rioja DOCa (section)

==Classification==
[[File:Reserva Rioja .jpg|right|thumb|A ''Reserva'' designated Rioja wine]]
The aging is carried out in 225-litre oak barrels for a period ranging from 1 to 3 years, and later in the bottle itself for a period of 6 months to 6 years.

Depending on the time the wine remains in the barrel it is classified as:

*'''Crianza:'''
** In red wines, the period of aging in oak barrels and bottles must be a minimum of two calendar years from 1 October of the year of the harvest in question, followed and complemented by aging in the bottle. The minimum time that the wine must remain in the barrel is one year.
** In the case of whites and rosés, the total time is the same as for reds, but only a minimum of six months in barrels is mandatory.
*'''[[Reserve wine|Reserva]]:'''
** In red wines, the period of aging in oak barrels and bottles must be a minimum of thirty-six months, with a minimum aging period of twelve months in oak barrels.
** In the case of whites and rosés, the total time between aging in oak barrels and bottles must be a minimum period of twenty-four months, with a minimum aging period of six months in oak barrels.
*'''Gran Reserva:'''
** In red wines, the time must have a minimum of time in barrel of twenty-four months, followed and supplemented with an aging in bottle period of at least thirty-six months.
** In the case of whites and rosés: aging in oak barrels and bottles for a total period of at least forty-eight months, with a minimum aging period in oak barrels of six months.

In 2018, the Regulating Council released new classification rules for Rioja, in an attempt to encourage championship of regional microclimates and put a greater focus on singular vineyard sites.<ref>FineWineMaster ''"[https://finewinemaster.com/rioja-wine-new-classifications-announced/ Rioja Wine – New Classifications Announced]"'' FineWineMaster, December 2018</ref> This amended system, similar to Burgundy grading, moves Rioja from being focused primarily on aging and oaking to a more all encompassing system inspecting the [[terroir]] of the wine – such as allowing labels to display the village or municipality of origin on the front label.