20. Spain Flashcards
Describe the hierarchy of Spanish appelations and briefly their requirements
Spain Wine Laws
“Vino” – Wine with no geog indication.
PGI Wines
- “VT” = Vino de la Tierra (VT) – 40 in Spain (Castilla-largest)
PDO wines
- Denominacion de Origen Protegida (DOP)
- Reg for each denomination set & controlled by specific Consejo Regulador e.g.
- Vineyard: max yields; permitted var; vy practices e.g. irrig;
- Winemaking: regulations (e.g. ageing reqmts)
- Packaging
- Bottling: specified for DOCa/DOCq and maj or DO’s
- not for all e.g. La Mancha allows bulk shipping
PDO wines include the following:
DO: Denominacion de Origen
- 70 DOs >> vast maj of plantings >>of a certain min quality
DOCa or DOQ: Denominacion de Origen Calificada
- DO established min 10 yrs
- bottled at prod property
- Various quality regul, incl taste assess by extern panel
- Process to audit restrictions & regulations
- Currently only 2 – Rioja and Priorat
VP: Vinos de Pago
- Maj in Castilla-La Mancha; others Navarra, Valencia, Aragon
- Small no > single estates> high reputation
- Approved estates; vinify and mature only own grapes; on their estate
- Not tb confused with Grandes Pagos de Espana of which only some are qual to label “Vino de Pago”.
Describe Spains climate overall
Climate
- At 36 – 43 N Spain considered warm
- Country is high plateau
- Lower ground > several major rivers along which wine growing regions are found.
N/NW (Rias Baixas)
- Moderate, maritime climate (Atlantic weather systems)
- Rainfall is high (esp a problem for Rias Baixas and fungal disease), thought the year
N/NE (Castilla y Leon to Catalunya)
- Sheltered from Atlantic by mntns. > more continental
South and East Coast – Levante (Valencia)
- Warm Mediterranean
- Vineyards moderated by the influence of sea/altitude
- warm dry summer, mild winter
Meseta Central (La Mancha)
- Large plateau in centre of Spain
- Cut off from sea influence by encircling mountains
- Hot continental climate hot days mod by altitude, cool nights
- Winter temps below freezing/ Summer temps very high
- Rainfall limited
Mountains - key factor (alt) in ES
- Muscat and Grenache – need warm sites to ripen - grown at lower altitudes.
- PN, aromatic whites need cool > grown at alt
Describe high level VY management in Spain
VY Management
-
largest plantings (~1mha) 3rd largest prod, (IT, FR).
- 5yr ave 39m hl pa – which is low – reasons:
- Reflects nature of ES vy, - bush & low density (some 1000 v/ha)
- Lo dens pltgs reduces competition for water > climate/ low ann rain 300mm)
- Irrigation perm; some reg only for new pltg & extr drought; others perm only at start of grow season, not during ripening.
- Significant pltgs of old bush – incr recog as asset – provides good Q fruit. (max water to each vine + shade) Little desire to replant at higher dens.
- Hazards
- Very little rain, but when it rains often heavy storm, hot after >> risk mildew.
- Spring frost in the areas with cont. climate.
- Many ext old vines in sandy soils, (unaffect > not regrafted after Phylloxera)
- Grapevine moth – pheromone traps
- Many employ org practices, but few certify – market (int/dom) unwilling to pay the premium reqd to cover the cost of attain/retain cert.
-
Ave holding small.
- 66% <0.5ha; 22% 0.5 – 3 ha
- >> despite advances in tech understanding of vy mgt last decades, level of mech still low
What 2 varieties dom Spain
Airen (W)
- Mainly planted in centre > Castilla-La Mancha
- Inexp neutral whites for early cons
- Much prod distilled into Brandy de Jerez
Tempranillo (R, P)
- Grown many areas – various names
- Some inexp fruity reds
- But leading comp in Spains most prsigious and exp wine > Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro.
- Dom is recent, assoc with growth of ES wine in int mkts, esp assoc of Tempranillo with Rioja (cons leading wine region)
- Mid-hi yields (dep on site) makes it pop with prod.
- Limit yields >> conc structured wine
- Early ripen – finest in warm clim with cool infl (alt / cool wind)
- Single var, and blends differ across regions
Besides Airen and Tempranillo, what are the other main varieites growin in Spain
Bobal (R & P)
- Grown near coast, Valencia / Murcia
Garnacha Tinta (R & P wine)
- Rioja, Navarra, Catalunya, Aragon.
- Hi yield, late ripen (warm climate to ripen fully, aut rain)
- Upright growth – good for bush
- Prune short to contain vigour
- Does well on dry, low-fert soil,
- Drought resist, susc :coulure; PMD; BBR; Phomopsis; bact blight (kills the plant -cont by pruning tools)
- Can accumm sugar quickly (good for vdn)
- Adds red fruit, alc (lo tann, lo acid, lo col)
- Note Garnacha Tintorera = Alicante Bouschet (diff var)
Macabeo (Viura in Rioja)
- Most in Catalunya – still, early drinking, Cava spw
- Main white in Rioja
- Inexp neutral
- Lead comp in prem priced wines ferm & mat in oak.
Monastrell / Mourvedre
- Most Valencia, Murcia – suits warm Med clim.
- Late bud, late ripe (warm clim to ripen, mb hot end of seaso)
- Lo yield, req little but reg, water;
- Susc mites, leafhopper, sour rot (dam fm bird/insect)
- In the winery reductive o2!, typ oak aged
- Hi col, hi tann, hi alc, blackberry, blueberry
Describe in general winemaking techniques - RWP in ES
Winemaking in Spain
-
Inexp – mid price
- Youthful, fruity R, W, P makde protectively, often SS, temp control, use of inert gas, cultured yeast, fining and/or filtration
- young reds – carbonic / semi carbonic maceration to enhance fruity char
-
Prem R & W (mid price, higher)
- Some prod – SS , some concrete / eggs,
- increasingly amphorae for ferm & storage
- Oak maturation common (red)
- Whites unoaked & lees; or oak ferm and mature.
- Ageing per legislation (see table)
- Category
Generic – primary fruit flavours(SS) - No ageing
Crianza: primary fruit, some vanilla, toast (oak)
Riserva: pr fruit, secondoak, and tertiary also from ageing, dark chocolate#
Gran Riserva 5yrs ageing (18m wd)> terti dried fruit, and mushroom
Red** **(Rioja)
Ageing Barrel Bottle
24 6 (12)
36 12 6
60 18 (24)24
White/Rose
Ageing Barrel
18(24) 6
24 6
48 6
-
Rose
- Much inexp, sold in bulk; some VG at mid – prem price
- Better VY mgmt., harvesting has improved wmkg results in move away from hi alc, wine with over-ripe jammy flav.
- Classic rose = deep col, recently paler mimicking Provence, still many continue with deeper col, fruity rose made with long periods of skin contact.
- Most SS, bottled, early release
- Some (Bodegas Lopex de Heredia) make from mix of black with little white, macerated, pressed, fermented together. Matured in oak, sometimes long time, for (texture / complexity; secondary, tertiary flavours.
Describe the markets / wine business in Spain
Wine Business
- Small ave ha >> Co-Op very nb – some regions Negociant plays a role
- If estate vinifies only own grapes >> small volumes
-
Largest business for still:
- J Garcia Carrion; Felix Solis Aventis; Pernod Ricard Groupe; Miguel Torres SA; Bodegas Martin Codax SA
- Many have wineries in several regions
-
Sales
- Handful of super-prem wines, even these sell lower than sim from FR / IT
- ES not fashionable in investment wine despite qual of best wines
-
Domestic 1/3 of wine ~ 10 mhl pa
- Recent trend drinking less cheaper styles, more higher qual wine with DO status
-
Export: 21mhl in 2018:
- FR 24%, DE17% >both inexp styles
- UK, USA, CN nb for higher end wine, esp USA hi val:vol ratio
- Volume – ES global largest exporter of which 56% bulk
- Value – ½ of IT and 1/5 of FR
“Food and Wines from Spain”
- Promo body for ES
- Increase awarenesss diversity + quality ES products
- Information / education / promotional activieis
- NB DO’s and VTs own Consejos Reguladores play own role in marketing region’s wines
What sub regions are in Galicia
Highlight growing env and grape growing
Most common winemaking technique?
Rias Baixas is largest in Galicia
- small holdings / 170 wineries, small – large
- Co-Ops dom > modern winery equip > imp quality > inc pop
Sub Zones of Rias Baixas (one example is…)
- Val do Salnes – Directly on coast > coolest, wettest >>hi acid wines
Business> 25% export – > USA; UK
Growing Env & Grape Growing
- Climate Maritime– Atlantic moderates temps: summer warm, winter mild
- Hi rain all year > fungal disease/rain at harvest >> vintage variation
- Soil free draining (sand over granite bedrock)
-
Albarinho 95%
- Early-mid ripe, thick skin>> less rot & can fully ripen most years
- most single Var but blend ptnr: Loureira; Treixadura
-
Trellissing – pergola, often granite/stone support
- Originally allowed crops below
- Training high > air circ to red fungal dis
-
Larger co’s VSP to allow mech
- Style m int apple,lemon, grapefruit, peach, sometimes floral; hi acid, m-/m body; m alc;
- G/VG Inexp, some OS mid – prem price
Winemaking (Albarino)
- Protective –.
- Cold soak few hours > int fruit, texture
- Cool ferment, SS fruit
- Partial malo C to reduce acidity (butter not desired)
- Inexp – release early
- Better Q lees 1 – 2 yrs, or longer for body/texture
- Stirring avoided (may intro O2!!)
- Some prod ferm top wines in oak (small/new/partial) > toast + vanilla notes
Other Regions in Galicia
- Valdeorras - most east and warmest (Godello - made in premium style, amb yeast >small oak age>complex+texture) “The puligny montrachet” of spain.
- Ribera DO (Treixadura)
- Ribeira Sacro DO (Black - Mencia) - area is more inland less maritime inf
Desribe the Grow Env and Winemaking in Bierzo DO
Bierzo DO
- slate slopes >> hi q wine
- Similar clim to Galicia, further inland, warmer summer, cooler winter, adeq rain
- Vintage variation – some years wet cool, others warm, dry
- Mountains/hills 3 sides open to west – Atlantic infl.
- flat plain, lower slopes fert loam > inexp hi yield wines (carb mac / no oak)
- hillside to 850m , drainage, shallow slate > limits vigour.
- Alt > cool inf > di range>bla bla
- Steep >> bush vines common 80% >60yrs old (+ infert soil = low yield)
- Small plots – maj work manual
Var: 75% Mencia
- Early-mid ripe, quickly loses acid/accumm sugar –hi alc if picked late
-
Style:
- flat areas > l/m body, fruity red cherry/raspberry, m+/h acid; m tann
-
slopes > f body; hi tann, depends on growing conditions and wmkg
- Must be 70% of blend, bal Alicante Bouschet (col + black berry fruit)
- Alicante = 2% plantings – wine often 100% Mencia
Godello / other Galician white var also grown
Describe Grow Env / Winemaking in Toro
Describe business
Toro DO
West of CyL River Duero (Douro of PT) runs through region
Var Tinta de Toro (cons tb related to Tempranillo – not conf.)
- Thick skin > goo col & tann
- Reds mb 75% Tinta de Toro; bal Garnacha
- Rose from Tinta de Toro or Garnacha
White from Malvasia or Verdejo
Growing env & Grape growing
- Climate – far inland – continental – hot summer, cold winter, low rain.
- VY at 620 – 750m alt > diurnal range, cool nights – acidity – conc- ripen
- Alt means risk spring frost
- Rainfall low, irrig not permitted from June till post harvest.
- VY plant at low density – (below 2700 v/ha) mostly bush
- Soil : sandy, thus phylloxera not a prob, many vines not grafted, 1/5 are >50 yrs old some >100 yrs old
- Warm growing season, int sun, low yields – prod wines
- Int Ripe flavours blackberry, blueberry, deep col, f body, hi alc, hi tann, m+ or hi acid (cool nights)
- Site selection nb, cooler for slower ripening higher in the west or choosing north facing
- Caution – Consejo ermits max alc 15% abv for red, lower for W and P.
Winemaking
- Inexp – mid price: carb maceration for fruit & extract less tann = approachable, easy drinking
- A/G inexp – mid price
- Premium : conc fruit balances flavours from hi prop new oak (US/FR wood mixed)
Sign producer Teso La Monja & Numanthia
Wine Law / Business
- Long history.., hampered by location
- As neighbour Ribera del Duero became pop investors looked next door
- Last 20 yrs wineries inc 1998 – 20; today 50
- 96000 hl in 2016
Describe Ribera del Douro DO
Ribera del Douro DO
Growing env Grape growing
- Upper valley of Duero (Douro PT)
- Cut off from maritime influence by ring of mountains
- Climate – continental – short hot summer, very cold winter, low rain.
- Vineyards on highest part of Meseta Central
- VY 750 – 1000m > frost problem spring and autumn – limits grape time on the vine; causes serious loss of yield in some years
- Heaters, vine spraying with water, occ helicopters are used to combat
- Low rain 400 – 600m – irrig permitted sometimes – NOT during ripening
- Alt / aspects infl yields, balance and complexity (cool nights) e.g.:
- East higher, cooler. Many only grow Tempranillo (Tinto Fino here) or Tinta del Pais
- Flat & N-f most at risk for frost
- Half vy planted bush, ¼ > 50yrs old, some over 100yrs
- Newer vy trellised – quicker to establish.
- Vast maj growers have <1 ha
Winemaking - R/W/P produced
- White: a blend must have 75% Albillo Mayor –
- Red (majority of prod) : blend must have 75% Tempranillos; bal CS; Mer; Malbec; Garnacha; Albillo. (white >freshness> seldom done) & maj 100% Tempranillo
- Style: ripe blackberry, plum; vanilla, choc from (FR wood pop) oak; f body, hi alc,
- G/ OS, mid – s-prem price
- Some>Prem / super prem mature 50 – 100% new oak.
- Trend> less extraction / less pfm / less new oak >> among qual prod.
Sign prod Vega Sicilia; Dominio de Pingus; Bodegas Aalto
Describe Wine Law and the markets in Ribera del Douro
Wine Law / Business
- Ageing cat of Crianza, Reserva and Gran REserva comm used
- Crianza is by far most prod
- Gran Reserva – rare
- Majority labelled NO indic of ageing.
Sales
- Between 600000 – 700 000 hl prod
2019 20% exported – CH, Mex; US; DE; CN
Describe Ruedo DO
Ruedo
- Almost entirely white wine
- Historically prod fortified
-
1970 Marques de Riscal winery Rioja >> local Verdejo var can make fresh fruit wine
- If vinified protectively, ferm in SS
- They invested in Rueda – catalyst for transformation in the region
Var: Verdejo
- Drought tolerant, apple, peach fruit, herbal (fennel) note, slight bitter finish. m/m+ acid, malc
- SB is next most nb – can be blended with Verdejo or single var
Growing env & grape growing
- Climate – continental – short hot summer, very cold winter, low rain.
- VY at 700 800m – cool nights ….
- Soil: Bedrock limestone, sandy clay sublayer then topsoil stones / sand.
- Free draining, low in org matter – reduces vigour
- New VY VSP trellised, for mech
- Harvest at night desirable – grapes picked cool, transported at coolest temp,
- Some old bush vines, some on sand pre-date Phylloxera acc for 10% of planting prod hi Q fruit
Winemaking & Styles
- Single var – 85% rule applies but 100% var common
-
Inexp – protective, cool ferm, SS, bottled, early release.
- Cultured yeast – reliability, ability to promote fruity esters.
- a/G – Inexp
-
Mid price wines – usually lees aged, (few m to 1 yr) often reg lees stirring – body, texture
- G quality
- Frequently the most exp Rueda (still mid price) ferm / matured in oak, brings body, texture and aromatic comp – toast and smoke.
- Malo C generally avoided in all styles to retain acid
- G/VG prem price
Sign prod Ossian and Bodega Belondrade y Lurton
- DO Rueda cb used for blends that do not meet the requirements for var labelling
- Small prop of red / rose wine is also prod – mostly from Tempranillo (hi competition from neighbouring regions for this style)
Describe the wine business and markets for Ruedo DO wine
Ruedo
Wine Law / Business
- Prod x 4 this century
- Fruity crisp early drinking style tog with inexp price point – very pop dom and global
- However comp is high. Rueda prod incr looking to prod wine of higher q with more char
Sales
- 7x 1997 – 2016 driven by demand in both dom and exp mkt
- 2018 prod 616 000 hl
- 12% export NL DE, USA, CH
60% is prod locally, sign prop wineries outside the region e.g. in Rioja, Ribera del Duero offer a Rueda as white wine in their portfolio.
Describe grape growing/environment in Rioja
Growing Env & Grape growing
- 100km long, along the path of River Ebro > aspects / soils
- Open valley along Ebra delivers Med Sea influence on east parts of Rioja
- Rioja sandwiched
- Sierra de Cantabria (N) protects from worst Atlantic weather
- Sierra de la Demanda (S) protects from hot central Spain
3 Zones (also labelling terms)***
Rioja Alta – largest
- South of R Ebro
- Continental with maritime inf
- Along Ebro - low alt, warm, alluvial soil
- NW is cooler, with calcareous clay
- S is at alt 700m, cool, wet, ferrous clay
Rioja Alavesa – Smallest
- N of R Ebro
- Cool, wet VY at 700m calcareous clay
Rioja Oriental (prev Rioja Baja. Baja= low so changed to avoid neg connot)
- N & S of R Ebro
- N, around R Ebro, low alt, warm driest in Rioja
- S VY at 500-1000m at highest, temps as cool as R Alta, R Alavesa
- Soil calcareous clay
Describe Rioja Wine Law / Regulations
Draw a table of the ageing requirements
Wine Law / Regulations
- Recently changed (2017 – 2018)
- (Revolt by prod Artadi; and threat of new classification Vinos de Alava)
- Consejo Regulador changed regs. Prod who meet new specs can label as folls:
Vino de Zona***
- Grapes from single zone, named
- 85% rule, if bal on border, and 10yr consec sourcing
- Vinific/bottling/ageing mb in the zone
- Label may indicate zone of prod
Vino de Municipio
- All grapes sourced from named municipality (village or group of villages)
- 85% rule, if bal from bordering Munic. and 10 yr consec source history
- Vinific/bottling/ageing in Municip (stricter than Burgundy)
- Label may state municip with option of zone of production
Vinedo Singular (single VY)
- Grapes sourced, vinif, aged, bottled, stored on this VY.
- Prod must have owned VY 10 yrs
- VY must be min 35 yrs old
- Max yields complied with
- Hand harvest; sustainable vitic, some restrict on pruning in growing season
- Traceability checks, aut of wine by tasting panel
- Label may state municip/zdProd/VY or Estate and phase Vinedo Singular
The rules sit alongside the ageing reqmts **– oak vessels in Rioja ageing = 225l barriques
** overview page has table of Rioja ageing

Describe market structure and marketing of Rioja Wines
Wine Business – Rioja
- 50% < 1ha; 75% <2ha
- 15000 growers, 40% sell to co-ops (who sell some, rest by merchants)
- Top 10 prod ~ 40% sales
- 80% prod sell tiny amounts ~ 10% sales
Sales
- Growth in Export > UK DE USA
- (most pop Riserva & Gran Reserva)
- White and rose demand growing
- Rioja ave price/bottle higher than ES wine ave price; but low compared to France
Promotions/Marketing/Associations
- Conseja Regulador focuses on marketing Rioja – Rioja tastings in foreign markets for trade/consumer/media
- Rioja consitutes value for money, diversity
Producer groups “Bodegas Familiares de Rioja”~
- 40 prod promote wines under this heading, campaign on issues that affect small prod e.g. min stock holding
Rioja n Roll – 1st gen group – focus on q wines from part VY, promoting themselves and a diff perspective on Rioja
A group in Alava (Basque country) are leading a campaign to break away from La Rioja
Describe the varieties used in Rioja Doca wine and the red winemaking techniques
Tempranillo – 88% of black var
- Hi yield, ripens in cool, high alt, clay soil
- Dom var in Rioja wine
- Raspberry, black plum, m/m+ tann, m/m+ acid
- Made single var & blends
Garnacha – 8%
- Suits warm, dry R Oriental
- Ripe strawberry, m/l tann, f body
Graciano 2%
- Late ripen, drought resist, small yield
- Susc to fungal dis.
- Cont h acid, hi tann, fresh black fruit to blend
- Occasionally single var.
Mazuelo / Carinena / Carignan 2%
- Buds late, ripens late, yield must be controlled for q fruit.
- Susc PMD, grape moth. Mech harv diff – bunches firmly attached.
- Cont hi acid, occasionally single var.
Maturana Tinta / Trousseau
- Thick skin resists fungal dis,
- Can mgt to control vigour, warm site to ripen
- Susc to BBR, poor flowering, coulure
- Contr purple col, h acid, fresh cranberry, blackberry flavours.
CS – allowed, but small plantings
Winemaking : Rioja Reds
- Variety of styles, mostly blend
- Diff vy areas
- diff wm tech – esp extraction/maturation
- Ageing reg have signif impacted styles of of Rioja in market
- Regs led to standard brand
- young bottom, (inexp? low qual??)
- aged top (exp ?? high qual??)
- Also specification 225l barrique
- Weakness is only ageing is spec. VY and winery tech that add to Q not stipulated
- > 2 diff Gran Riservas – same ageing cb diff style, Q and price.
Two distinct Style-Camps of Rioja
- Traditional, Tempranillo blends, long aged in American Oak, aromas dried fruit, mushroom, cured meat, vanilla, coconut
- Modern: deep col, conc fruity reds -result of a new focus on the vineyard, including specific clonal studies, reduced yields, fermentation in small, separate lots and ageing in French oak. Often single-var Tempranillo released after a shorter time in barrel and bottle. Not only stylistically diff, also more financially attractive - quicker return on investment.
- The majority of wines sit somewhere in the middle
- ***
- Common trend
- – highlight q of grapes, by select of harvest date, extraction tech, size/age of maturing vessel, oak/concrete/amphorae, and shorter mat periods.
- Prod choose to label per reg and age acc or not
- French more com than US oak, some prod use only US oak, more use proportion US oak.
- Due to structure of industry (many small growers, few wineries, large no co-ops)
- blending parcels from var vy to create a style is both a feature and a necessity for Rioja wine – (Garnacha best from R. Oriental, Temp best from R.Alta or Alavesa. ~ blend across region gives best wine
- Some prod make single var, and a no. make single vy wine – newly permitted on label. Remains to be seen how the market responds.
Winemaking Rioja Rose
- Small vol, some amongst highest q/most exp in Spain
- Tempranillo / Garnacha
Describe the white varities mostly used in Rioja while wines and descibe winemaking and style
Var: White
Viura / Macabeo – 70% of W/6.5% tot Rioja
- Late bud, late ripe
- Susc to BBR, suits warm dry sites
- Neutral – cb made in var of styles
- Hi yield > SS > simple white, early drinking
- Low yield > oak matured > conc, complex wine, long ageing pot
Tempranillo Blanca 2nd highest
- Mutation of Temp. permitted first 2004 plantings now 13% of white in Rioja
- Lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, hi acid
Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca
- Blending components for divers of flav
- GB has hi acid; Usually oak matured, mid -prem price
Verdejo, SB
- Single var, or lend aromas to Viura
- Inexp, unoaked styles
Winemaking Rioja White
-
Much inexp, unoaked, easy drinking
- Protective wm tech > cool temps, SS
- Hi yield Viura cb neutral, m acid
- Verdejo, Temp Blanco, SB, in blend with Viura or single var – more int flav, acidity.
- A/G Q – Inexp – mid price
-
Mid – Prem price
- Mainly Viura, lo yield for conc + body
- Mb blend with Malvasia/Garn blanca for range of flavours
- Tends to be oaked
- Till recently many oxidatively aged
- Recently if oaked, still more balanced and fresh
- Subtle citrus fruit, smoky, nutty complexity (oak); m/m+ body and m/m+ acidity
- G/VG some OS
-
Classic oxidatively aged whites :
- Int, complex tert notes nuts, honey, dried fruits bal by acidity.
- Castillo Ygay – prod Marques de Murrieta
- Vina Tondona G Reserva – prod Lopez de Heredia
- OS q and S-prem price
Describe the growing env, varieties /styles from Navarra DO
Navarra DO (NE of Rioja)
- Climate: varies:
- Atlantic Ocean W; Med SeaE; Pyrenees (NE)
- 5 Subregions
- in the north, cooler wetter (Atlantic
- more inland warmer, drier, flatter
Varieties / Winemaking / Styles
- Controversial point - wide range varieties
- (debate: lots of varieities - not nec a good thing; Garnacha from old vine better than the recently selected Temp as primary grape)
-
Tempranillo (dominant plantings) made as single var or
blend with CS, MER- fruity, light body early drinking
- conc, full body (crianza, Res, G. Res)
- fr oak if CS is included or US oak for Temperanilla
Garnacha
- Some v old vines~hi q fruit
- Styles
- Single var = red berry, m+ acid, light body from regions north (Baja M, Vald, T Est)
- OR f body, hi tann from Ribera B (south)
Rose :
- deep col, dry, Garn or blend (Temp, CS, MER)
- fruit from northern - cooler -alt/maritime)
- 3-4 hrs light/6-12 hrs (deep) maceration,
- direct press not perm;
- ferm SS; release early red berry fruit. (some ferm in barrel)
- Many small growers > sell to co-ops
CH – principle white
- Citrus, peach, m alc, m/m+ acid, oaked or not
- Moscatel de Grano Menudo (MBaPG); SB; Viura; Malvasia also.
Debate – diverse var good/bad??
Describe the growing env, varieties in Aragon
4 Principal regions
- Carinena; Campo de Borja; Calatayud – south of Navarra
- Somontano NE border Catalunya, diff climate
Carinena; Campo de Borja; Calatayud – west
- Climate: Inland ~ warm, continental, hot, dry summer low rain 450-500mm.
- VY on high alt plateau/slope between 350 – 900m ~mod infl & hi diurnal range. (acid….slow ripen
- Cold wind“cierzo” also mods temps and slows ripening.
Mostly Garnacha, old vine
- Low rain + rocky free draining soil means bush vines at low density
- Dry & wind = min disease. Alt ~ spring frost!! red yield
- Holdings small, co-ops prod most
Style: Hi vol, inexp red,
- mod temps, SS, early release; ripe red+black fruit, med tann,, hi alc, m/f body.
Small no prod q focussed
- Old vind Garn fruit showcased
- Even prem wine spends none or ltd time in large(500l) /old oak
- Pron rasp + plum, spice (oak), m+ acid, m/m+ tann, hi alc
- G/VG mid – prem price
Somontano DO
- Foot of Pyrenees, vy at 350-650m; alt ~ diurnal range
- Climate : warm continental, rain adeq; all year ;
- Cold breeze off Pyrenees mod temps
- Var- range
- CS, CH most, and a lot of Gewurztraminer
- G/VG mid price.
- Somontado largest producer in Aragon.
- Ext inv (local bank) created hi tech winery, largest in region now owned Gonzalez Byass & Barbadillo. “Vinas del Vero - nameof the co-op”
Describe growing env, var, zones of Penedes
Penedes DO
Growing Env & Grape growing
-
Climate : warm Med;
- 3 sub zones with diff clim influence – supports hi diversity of var
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Varieities: White var 80%
- Xarel-lo; Macabeo; Parellada – Cava, SpW, Still, often blended
- CH – sizeable plantings
- Moscatel (Alexandria and MBaPG); SB; Gewurz, Riesling.
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Black: MER most planted,
- Others CS, Temp, PN, Syrah, + +
- 3 zones
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Penedes Maritim – between Sea, coastal hills
- Low alt, prox to sea, warm clim, no temp extremes
- Full bodied reds from late ripeners eg.- Monastrell
- Some white – Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada – (inexp still)
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Penedes Central – flat plain between coastal hills and inland mtns “Pre-Coastal Depression”
- VY still mod high compared to P Maritim (500m)
- Alt ~ cooling inf.
- Large plantings Xarel-lo; Macabeo, Parellada
- Also MER, CS, Temp, CH
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Penedes Superior –
- alt 500-800m, inland mtns
- (between Montserrat and Montmel)
- Alt ~ cool infl & hi diurnal range, spring frost = !!
- Cool cond good for CH, SB; as well as Riesling and Gewurztraminer; PN – all ripen and retain acidity.
- Rain 500mm, summer dry. Irrig only if vines are suffering permission from Consejo.
- *Soils** loamy, calcareous components ~ water retained for ripening
- Largest VY trellised for mech but still many with bush vines
Describe Winemaking in Penedes
Describe Business / Market in Penedes
Winemaking
- Most modern, example of Miguel Torres
- Temp controlled SS ~ Penedes known as source
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Style
- Clean, arom whites, fruity early drink reds
- More exp eg mat in oak, usually FR
- G/VG , inexp – mid price, some prem.
Wine Law/Business
- Penedes in last years intr precise zoning of VY area
- 10 sub-zones – geog + cultural parameters
- Label may state sub zone cert specs met e.g.
- Grapes organic grown, grapes are 100% from sub-zone
- Export: 30% DE, CA, CH; CN; USA
- Domestic: 90% in Catalunya (Barcelona-tourists)
Desribe the grow env, grape grow in Priorat
Comment on move from DO to DOQ status
Growing Env & Grape Growing
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Climate
- warm cont, sandwiched in prot mountains
- Sierra de Montsant (N) prot from wind
- Serra de Llaberia (S) prot from Med sea weather
- Hot summer, but hi diurnal range > cool nights and cold winters (frost!!)
- Rain mod 600mm mostly storms in winter & spring, summers dry
- Irrig perm in driest yrs, and to estab VYs.
- River Siurana gives range of alt & aspect
- warm cont, sandwiched in prot mountains
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Topography rugged ~ about 11% of DOQ area planted
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Many VY on slopes “costers” ranging from 50 – 60 deg incline >>
- terrraces (erosion), retain rainwater - reduce run.off
- hand labour (cost)
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Many VY on slopes “costers” ranging from 50 – 60 deg incline >>
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Soils – vary, mostly poor + stony some clay.
- More common slate-based soil “licorella” are thin, rocky, lacking nutrients, char particles of mica reflecting light and heat onto vines
- Bedrock slate fractures vert – vines can root deep in search of water
- Low nutrient, low water > low yields more extreme in old vines
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Vineyard>>New vy VSP trellised (if terrain allows)
- Max yield = 39hl/ha, can be as low as 5-6hl/ha (cost)
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Varieties: most Black - Garnacha; Carenena
- Suit hot days and dry conditions, esp Carinena – gets warmest sites.
CS, Syrah, MER make up rest
- Suit hot days and dry conditions, esp Carinena – gets warmest sites.
- Pop of int var has fallen many prod use only Garn & Carin.
- White : 6% of plantings : Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo
Long history (wm monks); recent int recogn
- Topography/weather > accessibility diff
- Phylloxera… skills move fm farm to city
- 1989 Rene Barbier & small group of vitculturalists imp VY; prod blends CS; Syrah; MER + local var, Garnacha & Carinena – oak age (FR 225l)
- Int success; by 1990’s, sell prem, s-prem price
- Priorat DO >> Priorat DOQ.
- ** Clos Mogador, Cls Dofi, Clos de L’Obac