10. The Islands

Question 1

What is the highest mountain in Spain and where is it located?

Answer 1

Mt Teide on Tenerife Island

Question 2

Almond trees replaced vineyards on the Balearic Islands after what event in 1891?

Answer 2

Phylloxera

Question 3

Which Balearic Island does not produce wine?

Answer 3

Trick question. They all produce wine

Question 4

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?

Answer 4

Serra de Tramuntana in northwest Mallorca

Question 5

Name and describe the wind that blows across Mallorca and Menorca from France

Answer 5

Tramontana. A cold, dry wind hailing from the Massif Central and Pirineos in France.

Question 6

Why does the Tramontana wind impact Mallorca less than Menorca?

Answer 6

Mallorca is shielded by the Serra de Tramuntana mountains.

Question 7

What is the name of the local wind on Mallorca that can impart a saline note to wines?

Answer 7

Embat. A soft, humid sea breeze that generally blows during the sunniest parts of the day

Question 8

Name the reddish clay topsoil in Mallorca

Answer 8

Call vermell. Often mixed with limestone gravels. Free draining.

Question 9

Name the primary White grapes of the Balearics.

Answer 9

Prensal Blanc/Moll

Chardonnay

Question 10

Name the primary Red grapes of the Balearics.

Answer 10

Manto Negro
Callet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot

Question 11

What is the indigenous white grape of the Balearics?

Answer 11

Prensal Blanc. Lacks acid, often blended with Chardonnay and Viognier. Light, easy drinking wine with citrus and tropical fruit notes.

Question 12

What is the indigenous red grape of the Balearics dominant in DO Binissalem?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What is the indigenous red grape dominant in DO Pla i Llevant.

Answer 13

Callet. Low to moderate alcohol, moderate acid, light rustic wines, usually blended, mineral/saline notes

Question 14

What is the name of the breeze blowing across DO Pla i Llevant?

Answer 14

Embat. Brings moisture and saline notes.

Question 15

What was the first DO in the Balearic Islands and when was it established?

Answer 15

DO Binissalem in 1990.

Question 16

____% of the grapes of DO Binissalem are red grapes and the two most important are _____ ______ and _____ _______.

Answer 16

75%
Manto Negro (37%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)

Question 17

18% of the wine style in DO Binissalem and DO Pla i Llevant is ______.

Answer 17

Rosado

Question 18

DO ______ on the Balearics is dominated by international grapes.

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is the synonym of “Canary Wine”? Describe it.

Answer 19

Malmsey, a sweet white unfortified wine made from Malvasia. Was popular in England, France and the Netherlands in the late 15th/ early 16th centuries.

Question 20

Which treaty in 1479 gave Portugal control of the Azores and Madeira, and Castile control of the Canary Islands?

Answer 20

Treaty of Alcacovas.

Question 21

What is the climate in the Canaries that makes it unique in Spain?

Answer 21

Subtropical. Known for having the best climate in the world.

Question 22

Whilst the Western Canary Islands rise from the ocean floor, the Eastern Islands sit atop the _____ _____.

Answer 22

Canary Ridge

Question 23

Most of the vineyards are found on ______ soils, the dominant soil of the Canaries

Answer 23

Volcanic. Usually low to mid elevations

Clay/sand can be found at higher elevations but volcanic dominates.

Question 24

T or F. Listan Blanco is native to the Canary Islands

Answer 24

False. This is Palamino Fino from Andalucia, likely brought by seafarers heading to the New World.

Question 25

The primary white grapes of the Canaries are ____ ____ and ____ ____.

Answer 25

Listan Blanco and Malvasia Volcanica (or Malvasia de Lanzarote)

Question 26

The primary red grapes on the Canaries are ____ ____ and ____ ____.

Answer 26

Listan Negro (or Almuneco)
Listan Prieto, the "mission" grape from Andalucia

Question 27

Name and describe the unique soil type of the Canaries.

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What are “hoyos” and why are they used?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What is the semi-circular wall of volcanic rock built on the windward side of an hoyo for further protection from winds?

Answer 29

Abrigo

Question 30

Name and describe the unique vine training method of DO Valle de la Orotava and DO Tacoronte-Acentejo. Why is it used?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Name this grape. Productive, low acid, not aromatic, neutral, low alcohol, native to Andalucia.

Answer 31

Palomino Fino.

Question 32

What red grape is native to the Canaries and responds well to carbonic maceration?

Answer 32

Listan negro. Most planted. Not a colour variant of Listan Blanco or Listan Prieto. Vigorous, red fruit, pepper, licorice.

Question 33

Which DO, technically it’s a VC, covers all the islands in the Canaries?

Answer 33

VC Islas Canarias. A regional, international “brand”

Question 34

Which of the Canary Islands has the lowest rainfall?

Answer 34

Lanzarote at about 150 mm annually

Question 35

What is the dominant grape of DO Lanzarote?

Answer 35

Malvasia Volcanica. 80% of wines are blancos.

Question 36

What is the dominant grape of DO Tacoronte-Acentejo?

Answer 36

Listan Negro at 90% of plantings. Tinto is 83% of wine style. Malmsey still being made to preserve tradition.

Question 37

What is the oldest and largest DO in the Canaries?

Answer 37

DO Tacoronte-Acentejo

Question 38

In which DO do you see fairly large production of both Listan Negro and Listan Blanco?

Answer 38

DO Valle de la Orotava. Currently, this is the trendiest DO covered in wine-related media.

Question 39

Which DO is planted on Mt. Teide?

Answer 39

DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora

Question 40

What is the dominant wine style in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora?

Answer 40

Blanco at 78%