Valles de Sadacia is a Spanish

geographical indication A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, ...

for Vino de la Tierra

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

s located in the autonomous region of

La Rioja La Rioja () is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an ...

. Vino de la Tierra is one step below the mainstream Denominación de Origen indication on the Spanish wine quality ladder. Only white wines are included in Valles de Sadacia. Three types are considered: dry (''seco''), semi-dry (''semiseco'' or ''semidulce'') and sweet (''dulce'').

History

The Valles de Sadacia geographic indication was created in 2003, on the initiative of the Agricultural Authorities of the Government of La Rioja, in collaboration with Castillo de Maetierra, a winery specialized in the production of quality white wine.http://www.castillodemaetierra.com/english/index.php Castillo de Maetierra winery website. In English The name Sadacia derives from ''Sádaco'', the ancient Roman name of the river Cidacos.

Geography

Valles de Sadacia comprises four of the seven river valleys that cross La Rioja: the rivers Iregua, ,

Cidacos The Cidacos River is a tributary of the Ebro. Its source is Los Campos, in Soria, and it flows for 77 km (48 mi) until its reaches the Ebro at Calahorra (La Rioja). It flows through or past various towns like Villar del Río, Yanguas ...

and Alhama. This area receives the lowest rainfall and most hours of sunlight in the La Rioja region. The following municipalities are covered: Agoncillo,

Aguilar del Río Alhama Aguilar del Río Alhama is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. The municipality covers an area of and as of 2011 had a population of 549 people. It is located in a low altitude mountainous area, in the foothills ...

Albelda Albelda (; ) is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. ...

, Alberite, Alcanadre, Aldeanueva de Ebro, Alfaro,

Arnedillo Arnedillo is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin) ...

Arnedo Arnedo is the third largest town in La Rioja, Spain. It is located near Calahorra, and has a population of about 15,000 people. Its economy is based on the shoe industry. History The area of Arnedo has been inhabited as early as the Neolithic ...

, Arrúbal,

Ausejo Ausejo is town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja (Spain), La Rioja, Spain. The municipality covers an area of and as of 2011 had a population of 1122 people. Geography Ausejo sits on a hill previously used f ...

Autol Autol is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. River Cidacos The Cidacos River is a tributary of the Ebro. Its source is Los Campos, in Soria, and it flows for 77 km (48 mi) until its reaches the Eb ...

, Bergasa, Bergasilla,

Calahorra Calahorra [] ( an, Calagorra, la, Calagurris) is a municipality in the comarca of Rioja Baja, near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During Ancient Rome, Ancient Roman times, Calahorra was a municipium known as ''Calagurris ...

Cervera del Río Alhama Cervera del Río Alhama is a town in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. The municipality covers an area of and as of 2011 had a population of 2704 people. Demographics Population centres * Cervera del Río Alhama * Cabre ...

Clavijo Clavijo is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja (Spain). It is located near the capital, Logroño. , its population was of 276 inhabitants. In 834, according to a 12th-century spurious charter and later traditional records, th ...

, Corera,

Cornago Cornago is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin) ...

, El Redal, El Villar de Arnedo, Galilea, Grávalos,

Herce Herce is a town and municipality in La Rioja province in northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: " ...

, Igea, Lagunilla de Jubera, Leza de Río Leza, Murillo de Río Leza, Muro de Aguas, Nalda, Ocón, Pradejón, Préjano, Quel, Ribafrecha, Rincón de Soto, Santa Engrancia de Jubera, Santa Eulalia Bajera, Tudelilla, Villamediana de Iregua, Villarroya and

Logroño Logroño () is the capital of the province of La Rioja, situated in northern Spain. Traversed in its northern part by the Ebro River, Logroño has historically been a place of passage, such as the Camino de Santiago. Its borders were disputed b ...

Authorized Grape Varieties

Wine bearing the Vino de la Tierra Valles de Sadacia indication on their labels must be made with at least 85% grapes of the white varieties

Moscatel de Grano Menudo Muscatel ( ) is a type of wine made from muscat grapes. The term is now normally used in the United States to refer to a fortified wine made from these grapes rather than just any wine made from these grapes. This fortified muscatel became pop ...

Moscatel de Alejandría Muscat of Alexandria is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of ''Vitis vinifera''. It is considered an "ancient vine", and wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence.J. Robi ...

Viura Macabeo, also called Viura or Macabeu (, ), is a white variety of wine grape. It is widely grown in the Rioja region of northeastern Spain, the Cava producing areas south of Barcelona, and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. S ...

Malvasia Malvasia (, also known as Malvazia) is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. ...

and

Garnacha blanca Grenache blanc (also known as garnatxa blanca in Catalonia) is a variety of white wine grape that is related to the red grape Grenache. It is mostly found in Rhône wine blends and in northeast Spain. Its wines are characterized by high alcohol a ...

are also allowed.

Technical requirements

* Maximum planting density: minimum 2,850 vines/hectare * Maximum grape production: 10,000 kg/hectare * Maximum yield: 70% (70 L must per 100 kg grapes)

References

{{coord missing, Spain Wine regions of Spain