20 - Spain Flashcards
Outline the three broad climates that exist in Spain
warm → latitude:
1. Maritime NW
- Atlantic influence
- high rainfall
- mountains help shield + provide continental climate
- RIAS BAIXAS, RIBEIRA SACRA, BIERZO
2. Continental centre
- meseta central Spain
- 600-900m
- High diurnal
- LA MANCHA, TORO, RUEDA, RIBERA, RIOJA, NAVARRA, CALATAYUD, CARIENEA
3. Mediterranean S/E
- moderated by sea
- warm, dry summers
- mild winters
- CATALUNYA, VALENCIA, ALICANTE, YECLA, JUMILLA
Where does Spain sit in the global rankings of vineyard area, production volume and export price.
Vineyard area → largest in the world
Production (volume) → #3
Export (price) → lowest of any major exporter
What kind of planting density is common is Spain and why? (3)
Low → some 1,000 VPH
Dry + hot climate → water scarce → low density to reduce competition
= vineyard area is largest but production is #3
Under what circumstances is irrigation allowed? (3)
Varies regionally, usually allowed for:
- Establishing young vines
- Extreme drought
- Beginning of growing season
- prohibited during ripening
Why is mildew a concern nationally despite the dry climate?
Heavy storms + warm temps
Where is spring frost a concern?
continental climate areas
What is the most common vineyard pest in Spain?
What impact do they have?
What is the most common way of dealing with them?
European grapevine moths
- attack flowers/grapes → reduces yield
- wounds → fungal + bacterial disease
= Pheromone traps
To what extent is organic viticulture practised in Spain?
High % of certified organic
higher including practising organic
What are the six most widely planted grape varieties in Spain?
N.B. as of 2021, Tempranillo is now the most widely planted
Describe where Airen is planted and what it is used for.
Planted → central Castilla-La Mancha
Used → neutral white wines + distilled
Where is Tempranillo planted, what is it used for and what climates does it prefer? How does it yield?
- Planted widely. Rioja + Ribera del Duero + Toro
- Used → varying Q depending on y. + climatic cond → blended/single varietal
- Climates → Early rip → best in warm climates with cooling influence
- Yield are medium-high → popularity
Describe the characteristics of Bobal including:
- Why it is suited to warm climates
- Difficulties cultivating the variety
- Yield
- Colour
- Flavour
- Styles of wine production
- Quality Price
Warm climates →
drought tolerant and able to retain acid (mid-late budding → continental climates)
Difficulties uneven ripening, vigour
Yields high
Colour deep → popular for blending in inexp wine
Flavour Blackberry, blackcherry, chocolate
Styles:
- Deep rosé
- High acid, med tannin, light, semi-carbo
- High acid, med(+) tannin, med(+)-full body → old vines + oak
Quality-Price Acc-VG → Inexp-mid-priced
Describe where Garnacha Tinta is planted and what it is used for.
Planted
Rioja, Navarra, Catalunya, Aragon
Used
red +rose
Describe where Macabeo is planted and what it is used for.
Planted
Catalunya + Rioja (Viura)
Used
- early drinking
- inexp white
- Cava
- prem, oak-matured whites in Rioja
Describe where Monastrell is planted (and why) and what it is used for.
Planted
Valencia + Murcia → late rip
Used
red wines
Describe the features of typical winemaking for youthful fruity wines including reds, whites and rose (6)
- SST Ferment
- Temp control
- Inert gas
- Cultured yeast
- Fining/filtration
- Carbo/semi-carbo
What vessels are popular for fermentation and ageing for premium red and white?
- SST
- Oak
- Concrete
- Amphora
Outline the national legislation for oak ageing for reds and whites/rose. Plus the size of barrels stipulated.
Hint:
- Reds: x4, x6, x10
- Whites/Rose: x3, x4, x8
Max barrel size is 330L
Outline the criticisms of Spain’s barrel-maturation hierarchy (3).
In which regions is it more or less popular?
What alternative terms are being used to indicate quality/age/mautration? (2)
- Associates barrel ageing with better Q - no other Q req stipulated
- Ignores styles that are better without barrel maturation
- Doesn’t allow for alternative maturation vessels
More popular in Rioja and Ribera
Less popular in Bierzo, Priorat
Alternative terms:
- Roble (“oak”) often less ageing than crianza
- Joven (“young”) little/no maturation
Why is American oak popular in Spain? (2)
To what extent is oak for different origins mixed?
- Historical trading relationship
- Cheaper
Often mixed → balance
Describe the modern and traditional styles of rose produced in Spain (3)
Modern
- High vol, inexp → deep, short maceration, SST ferment + bottled quickly
- Pale → DP, SST ferment, lees
Traditional
- Deep
- Oak ferment + aged
- lees
- short maceration of black grapes
- blended with white grapes → complexity
Describe the PDO/PGI/non-GI hierarchy in Spain
PDO:
DOCa/DOQ
- → DO
- min 10yrs
- bottled by producer
- tasting panel + audits
- only Rioja + Priorat
DO → 70, majority of vines
PGI:
Vino de la Tierra - VT
Vino - non-GI
What does VP refer to?
Vin do Pago
- small number of high rep estates mainly in Castilla-La Mancha
- May only use own grapes → made + matured on estate
