10. The Islands Flashcards
What is the highest mountain in Spain and where is it located?
Mt Teide on Tenerife Island
Almond trees replaced vineyards on the Balearic Islands after what event in 1891?
Phylloxera
Which Balearic Island does not produce wine?
Trick question. They all produce wine
The Mediterranean Climate of the Balearic Islands doesn’t see much rainfall. However, what area of the Islands can see up to 1500mm of rainfall?
Serra de Tramuntana in northwest Mallorca
Name and describe the wind that blows across Mallorca and Menorca from France
Tramontana. A cold, dry wind hailing from the Massif Central and Pirineos in France.
Why does the Tramontana wind impact Mallorca less than Menorca?
Mallorca is shielded by the Serra de Tramuntana mountains.
What is the name of the local wind on Mallorca that can impart a saline note to wines?
Embat. A soft, humid sea breeze that generally blows during the sunniest parts of the day
Name the reddish clay topsoil in Mallorca
Call vermell. Often mixed with limestone gravels. Free draining.
Name the primary White grapes of the Balearics.
Prensal Blanc/Moll
Chardonnay
Name the primary Red grapes of the Balearics.
Manto Negro
Callet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
What is the indigenous white grape of the Balearics?
Prensal Blanc. Lacks acid, often blended with Chardonnay and Viognier. Light, easy drinking wine with citrus and tropical fruit notes.
What is the indigenous red grape of the Balearics dominant in DO Binissalem?
Manto Negro. High alcohol, low tannins, prone to oxidation, dark berry and floral notes, often blended with international varietals to add colour and structure but tintos must have min. 30% of manto negro.
What is the indigenous red grape dominant in DO Pla i Llevant.
Callet. Low to moderate alcohol, moderate acid, light rustic wines, usually blended, mineral/saline notes
What is the name of the breeze blowing across DO Pla i Llevant?
Embat. Brings moisture and saline notes.
What was the first DO in the Balearic Islands and when was it established?
DO Binissalem in 1990.
____% of the grapes of DO Binissalem are red grapes and the two most important are _____ ______ and _____ _______.
75% Manto Negro (37%) Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
18% of the wine style in DO Binissalem and DO Pla i Llevant is ______.
Rosado
DO ______ on the Balearics is dominated by international grapes.
DO Pla i Llevant. International grapes comprise 77% of plantings with Cab Sav and Merlot dominating. Callet is third most planted red grape. Chardonnay and Prensal Blanc dominate white grapes
What is the synonym of “Canary Wine”? Describe it.
Malmsey, a sweet white unfortified wine made from Malvasia. Was popular in England, France and the Netherlands in the late 15th/ early 16th centuries.
Which treaty in 1479 gave Portugal control of the Azores and Madeira, and Castile control of the Canary Islands?
Treaty of Alcacovas.
What is the climate in the Canaries that makes it unique in Spain?
Subtropical. Known for having the best climate in the world.
Whilst the Western Canary Islands rise from the ocean floor, the Eastern Islands sit atop the _____ _____.
Canary Ridge
Most of the vineyards are found on ______ soils, the dominant soil of the Canaries
Volcanic. Usually low to mid elevations
Clay/sand can be found at higher elevations but volcanic dominates.
T or F. Listan Blanco is native to the Canary Islands
False. This is Palamino Fino from Andalucia, likely brought by seafarers heading to the New World.
The primary white grapes of the Canaries are ____ ____ and ____ ____.
Listan Blanco and Malvasia Volcanica (or Malvasia de Lanzarote)
The primary red grapes on the Canaries are ____ ____ and ____ ____.
Listan Negro (or Almuneco) Listan Prieto, the "mission" grape from Andalucia
Name and describe the unique soil type of the Canaries.
Lapilli or Picon. A layer of small, porous volcanic pebbles that is essential due to scarcity of rainfall. It filters rain water, pulls moisture from trade winds and the ash is water retentive. Tends to produce wines characterised by tropical fruit and saline/mineral notes
What are “hoyos” and why are they used?
Funnel shaped holes dug into the lapilli where the vine is planted at the bottom so that the roots can find fertile soil. Also, the large ash funnel collects precious rainwater and protects the vines from the aggressive trade winds
What is the semi-circular wall of volcanic rock built on the windward side of an hoyo for further protection from winds?
Abrigo
Name and describe the unique vine training method of DO Valle de la Orotava and DO Tacoronte-Acentejo. Why is it used?
Cordon Trenzado. Vines are braided and turned to the side so that, at least originally, they can be picked up and moved to accommodate alternative crops. Some vines can reach 25 meters. These are always hand worked. These days the vines are stationary
Name this grape. Productive, low acid, not aromatic, neutral, low alcohol, native to Andalucia.
Palomino Fino.
What red grape is native to the Canaries and responds well to carbonic maceration?
Listan negro. Most planted. Not a colour variant of Listan Blanco or Listan Prieto. Vigorous, red fruit, pepper, licorice.
Which DO, technically it’s a VC, covers all the islands in the Canaries?
VC Islas Canarias. A regional, international “brand”
Which of the Canary Islands has the lowest rainfall?
Lanzarote at about 150 mm annually
What is the dominant grape of DO Lanzarote?
Malvasia Volcanica. 80% of wines are blancos.
What is the dominant grape of DO Tacoronte-Acentejo?
Listan Negro at 90% of plantings. Tinto is 83% of wine style. Malmsey still being made to preserve tradition.
What is the oldest and largest DO in the Canaries?
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
In which DO do you see fairly large production of both Listan Negro and Listan Blanco?
DO Valle de la Orotava. Currently, this is the trendiest DO covered in wine-related media.
Which DO is planted on Mt. Teide?
DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
What is the dominant wine style in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora?
Blanco at 78%
