11. Spain Flashcards
Spain is the ______ largest wine producer in the world.
Third
Behind France and Italy
Spain has ____ million acres under vine.
2.5 M acres (roughly 1 M hectares)
What is the interior plain that spans much of Spain called?
The Meseta
What is the Meseta?
Large plateau across the interior of Spain.
Spain’s climate is mostly:______________.
Continental.
With the exception of a maritime climate in the northwest and a Mediterranean climate of the coastal areas of the south.
What are Spain’s most largely planted grapes?
Red: _____________
White: ______________
Tempranillo
Airen
Tempranillo and Airen together account for ____ of total plantings across Spain.
42%
Describe Airen.
Airen is a neutral white variety, with much of production dedicated to brandy and blended wine.
Which grape is also known as Tinta de Toro?
Tempranillo
in Toro
Which grape is also known as Tinta de Pais?
Tempranillo, in Ribera del Duero, Cigales
Which grape is also known as Tinta Fino
Tempranillo, in Ribera del Duero
Which grape is also known as Ull de Llebre
Tempranillo, in Catalonia
What is Tempranillo referred to as in Catalonia?
Ull de Llebra
Which grape is also known as Cencibel?
Tempranillo, in La Mancha and Valdepenas
What is Tempranillo known as in Veldepenas?
Cencibel
Which grape is also known as Aragonez?
Tempranillo, in Portugal (other than in Douro, where it is known as Tinta Roriz.
What is Tempranillo called in Portugal?
Aragonez
What is Tempranillo called in the Douro?
Tinta Roriz
Besides Tempranillo, what are three other key red grapes of Spain?
Garnacha, Bobal, Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
What is Mourvèdre called in Spain?
Monastrell
What are two leading white grapes of Spain besides Airen?
Cayetana Blance and Macabeo (Viura)
What is the key grape of Rias Baixas?
Albariño
What is the PGI status referred to as in Spain?
Vino de la Tierra de (name of region).
Which classification maps to “Vino de la Terre de….”?
IGT
PGI
PDO
PGI
Spain currently has 42 areas with PGI status
What is VCIG?
Vino de calidad con indication geographical. This is Spain’s nomenclature for its entry level PDO status.
It is intended for up and coming regions that are expected to prove themselves worth of PDO status soon.
These are indicated on the label by: Vino de Calidad de (region name).
Which level of EU classification does Denominacion de Origen (DO) map to?
PDO - the the middle level of Spain’s three PDO categories.
How many DOs does Spain currently have?
68
What stipulations does a DO typically put forth?
Area
Grape varieties
Yield
Winemaking methods
Aging regimens
What is a Cosejo Regulador?
Regulating council across Spain’s DOs (Denominacion de Origen).
What does Vino de Pago represent on a Spanish wine?
A quality designation as per the Spanish government that can span both the DOCa and the DO regions.
Intended to recognize singe vineyard wines of distinction.
What does DOCa stand for? What does it mean?
Denomination de Origen Calificada. Granted to wines that have demonstrated consistent quality maintaining DO status for at least 10 years.
Currently on in place for Rioja and Priorato (where it is noted as Priorat DOQ).
What are the five levels of Spanish wine?
Vina de Mesa
Vino de la Tierra (PGI)
Vino de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica (VCIG)
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
Vino de Pago can span both DOCa and DO wines - representing wines from single vineyards.
What are oak barrels called in Spain?
Barricas
There are two sets of terminology to define aging requirements for Spanish wine. How are they grouped?
One set for PGI and PDO wines.
One set for PDO only wines.
True or False.
Only PDO wines can use the terms Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva in Spain.
True
Crianza requires a minimum 6 months of aging in barrel for red and white wines. 18 months total aging for white, 24 months total aging for red.
Reserva requires a minimum of 12 months aging in barrel for red and 6 months aging in barrel for whites. 36 months total aging for red and 24 months total aging for white.
Gran reserva requires 18 months barrel aging for red and 6 months barrel aging for white. 60 months total aging for red and 48 months total aging for white.
Note minimum barrel aging periods for all designations for whites is 6 months.
True or false:
For PDO wines, the minimal barrel aging time for white wines noted as Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva is 6 months, the same across all levels.
True.
Minimum barrel aging time for all three levels is 6 months, but total aging time changes with each level. For Crianza, it is 18 months. For Reserva, it is 24 months. For Gran Reserva, it is 48 months.
When would the designation of Joven be used for a Spanish wine?
When the wine is a PDO wine, being released the year after it was made - and if oak aged, aged for a shorter period of time than the minimum number of months required for the Crianza designation.
What term is now used synonymously with Joven for Spanish, PDO wines?
Generico. The term came forward in 2018.
What are the three terms used to indicate minimum aging requirements for PGI and PDO wines in Spain?
Vino Noble: Minimum 18 months aging
Vino Anejo: Minimum 24 months aging
Vino Viejo: Minimum 36 months - but unlike Noble and Anejo, the environment must be oxidative.
What are the total aging requirements for Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva reds?
24, 36, and 60 respectively
What is the minimum aging period for Spanish whites noted at Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva?
18, 24, 48 respectively
What is the minimum total aging time for Spanish whites noted as Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva?
18, 24, 48 respectively
What is the name of the wine region in the northwest part of Spain?
Galicia
Where is the Galicia wine region?
Northwest part of Spain (often referred to as Green Spain)
What are the three best known DO wine regions of Galicia?
All primarily known for crisp white wines.
Rias Biaxas (Alberino, Louereira, Treixadura)
Ribeiro (Treixadura, Loureiro, Torrontes, Albariño, Godello)
Valdodeorras (Godello - White, Mencia - Red)
What are they three key grapes used in wines from Rias Biaxas?
Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura
What are the key grapes used in wines from Ribeiro?
Treixadura, Loureiro, Torrontes, Albariño, Godello
What river runs through Ribeiro?
the Mino (Minho) River
Where is the Valdoderras region?
On the eastern / inland edge of Galicia (northwest of Spain)
Which river flows through the heart of Castillo Y Leon?
The Duero River
Is Castilla Y Leon in the valley of the Duero River or on the high plains of the Northern Meseta?
Both - its along the Duero and on the Meseta
What are the five key regions of the Castilla Y Leon cited in the text?
Toro
Rueda
Biero
Cigales
Ribera del Duero
Which wine regions of Castilla Y Leon are noted primarily for red wines and primarily for white wines?
Red:
Toro, Bierzo, Cigales, Ribera del Duero
White:
Rueda
What grape is the Toro DO best known for?
Tempranillo, which is locally known as Tinta de Toro
Does Toro DC produce any white varieties ?
Yes, but in very small quantities. From Malvasia Blanca.
Toro also produces a small amount of Rose, from Garnacha.
Rueda’s dry, aromatic white wines are typically made from the ________ grape.
Verdejo
Verdejo accounts for approximately 88% of total plantings in Rueda.
Where is Rueda Blanco produced?
In the Rueda DOC, in the Castilla Y Leon region of Spain. (East of Northern Portugal)
What grapes may be included in a Rueda Blanco wine?
Verdejo
Sauvignon Blanc
And limited additions of Viura, Palomino, Fino, Viognier, Chardonnay
Approximately what percentage of Rueda’s production is red wine?
5%
Reds and rosados, from Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and/or Merlot comprise roughly 5% of Rueda’s total production.
Where is the Bierzo DO?
North of Portugal, East of Valdeoderras. As such, its climate somewhat straddles the maritime climate of Galicia and the more continental climate inland.
Its best known for flavorful red wines made from the Mencia grape.
What is the Bierzo DOC known for?
Flavorful red wines made from the Mencia grape.
True or False: Ribera del Duero is considered by many to be on par with Rioja for the quality of its wines.
True. Ribera del Duero produces rich, flavorful red wines based on Tempranillo (known locally as Tinta Del Pais or Tinto Fino).
What spanish wine region is known for flavorful red wines made from the Mencia grape?
Bierzo DOC
What is a Hybrid-Style Sherry?
A sherry that begins as a fino, aging under flor. But the flor is allowed to die, and it continues aging oxidatively.
What is soleo?
The process of sun drying grapes on mat (in Spain).
What is en Rama Sherry?
Sherry that is unfiltered. This natural style of sherry is popular in historical times - and is beginning to grow in popularity again.
What is the Montilla-Moriles DO known for?
Rich, sweet desert wines made from Pedro Ximenez.
Where is the Montilla-Moriles DO?
East of Jerez
95% of Cava production is centered around the municipality of __________________.
San Sudurni de Noya. This is where the first bottles of cava were produced in 1872. This is known as the ‘spiritual heart’ of Cava.
There are three zones beyond Catalonia that are approved for the production of Cava DO. What are they?
Valle de Ebro (Ebro Valley)
Altos de Levante (Valencia)
Vinedos de Almendralejo (Extramadura)
What are the three primary grapes for Cava production?
Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Other allowed grapes include Chardonnay, Malvasia, Pinot Noir, Garnacha, Monastrell, and Trepat
Cava de Guarda was created in 2021. What is it?
A new tier of wines noted for higher quality standards. Specifically the wine must be traceable from vineyard to bottle, the vines must be at least 10 years old and farmed organically, and the wine must be vintage dated
What is the name of the new quality designation for Cava introduced in 2021?
Cava de Guarda
What is Corpinnat?
Corpinnat is a EU recognized brand name with its own set of standards - including location, use of organic farming practices, hand harvesting, minimum lees aging, and the use of 90% “historic” varieties.
https://www.corpinnat.com/en/
What are the three noted types of soil found in the Jerez region?
Albariza soil (white): Limestone rich chalk and clay. Barro soil: Clay with iron oxide. Arena soil: Sandy.
True or False: The Ribera del Duero is believed by many to be on par with the quality of Rioja wines.
True. Ribera del Duero produces rich, flavorful wines based on Tempranillo (locally known as Tinta del Pais or Tinto Fino).
What is produced in Ribera del Duero beyond Tempranillo based reds?
Rosados and Claretes (light reds), along with Ribera Blanco.
What grape is Ribera Blanco typically made from?
Albillo Mayor (must be a minimum of 75% Albillo Mayor).
Where is the Navarra region?
Northern portion of Spain, a portion of the Rioja DOCa crosses over into Southwestern Navarra.
True or False: Rioja and Navarra share a similiar climate
TRUE
What type of wine is Navarra traditionally famous for?
Rose (though it is reinventing itself with international grape varieties.)
What was the first region to be elevated to DOCa status in Spain?
Rioja
What impact do the Cantabrian Mountains have on Rioja?
They block much of the cold air that would otherwise come inland from the Atlantic Ocean / Bay of Biscane.
The Rioja DOCa lies in the valley of the _______ River
Ebro River
What are the three Rioja DOCa sub appellations / zones?
Rioja Alta: High altitude, hilly area, western part of the region.
Rioja Alavesa: North of the Ebro.
Rioja Oriental: Lower, flatter eastern portion. Warmest of the three areas. Formally known as Rioja Baja.
Of the three Rioja DOCa sub zones, which is the hottest/driest?
Rioja Oriental. (Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa are known to produce finer grapes from more mild climates).
Are Rioja DOCa wines required to be sourced/produced from one region?
No. They may be - and typically are - blended from 2 or 3 of the zones.
What are the key grapes of Rioja?
Reds: Tempranillo (primary). Also Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carinena/Carignan), Graciano.
White: Viura (primary). Also Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasia Blanca, Verdejo.
More than 90% of the vineyard area of Rioja is for red grapes.
What is the nature of French influence in Rioja?
Bordeaux winemakers resettled here when phylloxera was destroying the vineyards of France. They left behind many techniques of French wine production, including use of the 225 liter oak barrel for aging.
What type of oak is used for oak aging in Rioja?
American oak, though some producers are introducing the use of French oak.
Describe the aging requirements of Rioja DOCa wines.
These apply only to red wines.
There are two main differences:
1) there are higher minimum barrel aging requirements for Crianza (6 for Spain, 12 for Rioja), and Gran Reserva (18 for Spain, 24 for Rioja).
and 2) There are minimum bottle times cited for Reserva (6 months) and Gran Reserva (24 months) - which is not part of the broader scheme for Spain.
What is the principle grape of White Rioja wines?
Viura
What is the principle grape for Rose Riojas?
Grenache (blended with other regional grapes)
Does Rioja produce sparkling wines?
Yes, traditional method sparkling wines, known as Vino Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja DOCa are allowed under the Rioja DOCa designation.
What is the best known DO of Aragon?
Somontano DO (foothills of the Pyrenees)
Where is the Aragon wine region?
Northern Spain, east of Navarra and Rioja
What is the name of the well known wine region in the northeast of Spain?
Catalonia / Catalunya
What is the general climate of the Catalonia region?
Mediterranean
What are the five key DOs of distinction for Catalonia noted in the text?
Priorat DOQ / Priorato DOCA
Tarragona (one of the largest)
Montsant
Costers del Segre
Penedes
(DO Catalonia Across All)
What are the two Spanish wine regions to be granted DOCa status?
Rioja and Priorat
What kind of soil is Priorat known for?
Llicorella soils - decomposed slate, mica, minerals. Imparts an herbal and minerally character to the red wines of the region.
What are the two key grapes of Priorat?
Garnacha, with Carinena as a close second.
Beyond Garnacha and Carinena, what other red grapes are permitted in Priorat DOCa wines?
Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah
75% of Tarragona wines are:
Full body, aromatic whites. Tarragona is one of Catalonia’s largest DOs.
True or False: Montsant DO used to be a subzone of the Tarragona DO
True, it because a new DO in 2001.
Which Spanish wine region is cited for starting the modern wine revolution of the 1970s?
Penedes. Penedes became the first area in Spain to use stainless steel equipment and temperature controlled fermention techniques.
Is Penedes better known for red or white wines?
Penedes DO, of the Catalonia region, focuses primarily on white wines made from Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada grape varieties. Chardonnay is planted here as well.
Describe the DO Catalonia.
The Catalonia DO includes all of the other DOs of the region, allowing for a range of wines/styles to be bottled as such.
What sentence do I use to remember the sub zones of Catalonia?
Cats prefer tarragon more than costly pens. (Catalonia, Priorat, Tarragona, Monstant, Costers del Segre, Penedes.)
What sentence do I use to remember the sub zones of Catalonia?
Cats prefer tarragon more than costly pens. (Catalonia, Priorat, Tarragona, Monstant, Costers del Segre, Penedes.)
Where is Castilla - La Mancha?
In the central Meseta of Spain
Where is the bulk of AIren produced in Spain?
Castilla - La Mancha (central Meseta of Spain)
How many vinos de pages does Castilla - La Mancha have?
12, More than any other region in Spain. (Vino de Pago - recognizing wine from single vineyward, estate bottling, from DOs)
Where is the Valdepenas DO?
Castilla - La Mancha. It is surrounded by the La Mancha DO.
What is the name of the DO fully encircled by La Mancha DO?
Valdepenas DO.
What are the three cited DOs of the Murcia region?
Jumilia, Yecla, Bullas
Where is the Murcia wine region?
Southern Spain, Eastern Coast. West of La Mancha.
What is the most common type of wine produced in the Murcia region?
Deep reds from Monastrell / Mourvèdre grape. Jumilia, Yecla, Bullas. All three DOs produce reds, whites, and roses.
Jerez is home to what type of wine?
Sherry
Together, the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barremeda, and El Puerto de Santa Maria are known as:
The Sherry Triangle
The primary grape used in the production of Sherry is:
Palomino
What grape is often shortened to PX?
Pedro Ximenez. Creates as sweet, dried grape Sherry wtih a deep mahogany hue.
True or False: Muscat de Alexandria (Moscat) is grown in the Jerez region.
True. It is often dried and used for a sweet dessert wine, and may also be used as a sweetening agent for Sherry.
What are the common white grapes used in:
Ribeiro
Rueda
Ribera Blanco
Rioja
Ribeiro (Galicia): Treixadura, Loueiro, Torrontes, Albariño
Rueda (Castilla de Leon): Verdejo
Ribera Blanco (Ribera Del Duero): Albilla Mayor
Rioja: Viura
