20.2 - Castilla y León Flashcards
Briefly describe the situation and climate of Castilla y León.
- N end of Meseta
- continental
- Mountaines
- Some maritime influence in W
Describe the situation, climate, topography rainfall and soils of Bierzo DO.
Situation
- NW of meseta
- mountains on 3 sides → open to W → maratime influence
Climate continental
Topography
- plain in middle
- lower slopes(fertile) → lesser Q wines
- slopes 500-850m for best Q
Soils
- plain and lower slopes → silt/loam
- upper slopes → shallow, slate
Why is Mencia suited to being grown in Bierzo?
Describe the styles of wine produced with the grapes.
Early-mid-ripening
diurnal range + some cooling maritime influence → prevents loss of acid + elevated sugar
Plains/lower slopes
- high acid
- med(-) body
- carbonic/semi-carbonic maceration
- good/mid-priced
Middle/upper slopes
- ripe red cherry, plum, floral, herbal
- med-med(+) body and tannin
- more alcohol
- oak matured
- VG-outst/mid-priced-prem
Describe the situation, climate, topography, rainfall and soils of Toro DO.
Situation W of CyL along River Duero
Climate Continental + large diurnals
Topography 620-750m
Rainfall low
Soils sandy → phylloxera
What are the main viticultural hazards in Toro DO?
- Spring frost - continentality
- Drought - low rainfall, irrigation not allowed from June onwards
How is the risk of drought managed in Toro DO? (2)
Low density → some 2,700 VPH
Irrigation → prior to June → success flowering + fruit set
Name two notable features of the vines in Toro DO?
- Ungrafted → sandy soils → no phylloxera
- Old vines → 20% more than 50 years old
- Bush vines
What is the main grape variety in Toro DO?
Tinta de Toro
mutation of Tempranillo better suited to warm conditions
Thicker skin → deeper colour + more tannin
Reds min 75% Tinta de Toro
What styles of wine are produced in Toro?
Connect the climate to the reds produced.
Reds
- min 75% Tinta de Toro (rest Garncha)
- deep colour
- high alcohol
- full-body
- high/ripe tannins
- ripe flavours balanced by highish acid → diurnals
Rose - from TdT/Garncha
White - Malvasia/Verdejo
Why are cooler sites popular in Toro?
high altitude/facing N sites
→ popular as DO limits ABV to 15% for reds
→ moderating factors needed to slow ripening
Name a winemaking technique associated with inexpensive and mid-priced wines and another associated with premium and super-premium wines.
Explain the impact each has on the wine.
Name a producer known for quality wine.
Carbonic maceration
→ reduced tannin extraction, enhance fruit
Oak ageing
soften tannin + introduce oak flavours
Numathia
Describe the situation, climate, topography, rainfall, and viticultural hazards of Ribera del Duero.
Situation upper valley of Deuro river, E Toro + Rueda
Climate similar to T and R with more continentality
Topography high altitude 750-1000m
Rainfall low 400-600mm
Hazards Frost in spring and autumn, drought during ripening
How can growers tackle Ribera del Duero’s principle viticultural hazards?
Frost
- heat
- asp
- helicopters
- growing across diversity of sites
Drought
- irrigation is allowed before rip to protect flowering + fruit set
- low density planting
Which part of Ribera del Duero is usually cooler? Why?
E → higher elevation
N.B. region has a range of aspects and elevation
Which grape varieties are grown in Ribera del Duero?
What styles of wine do they produce?
Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
- may be blended with Garnacha + int’l varieties or single
- ripe, oak heavy,
- full-bodied, high alcohol
some C.S, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha
Albillo Mayor - recently authorised to be used in white wine production
How are vines typically trained/trellised in Ribera del Duero?
How old are many vineyards?
What size are most vineyards?
bush vines, newer vineyards are trellised
1/4 >50yrs old
very small
Outline trends in winemaking in Ribera del Duero
Highly extracted/oaky style is king with up 100% new French or American oak
N.B. Crianza is most popular ageing category
Trends;
- less extraction
- shorter post-ferment maceration
- less new oak (Q producers)
What style of wine is Rueda known for? How has this changed?
Past 50 years → oxidative, fortified wine
Today fresh, fruity white wines after initial investment by Marques de Riscal winery
Describe the situation, climate, soil, rainfall, and topography of Rueda.
Situation between Toro and Ribera del Duero
Climate similar to above
Rainfall low
Topography 700-800m
Soil
topsoil of stones + sand
sandy clay + limestone bedrock
→ free-draining + low in nutrients → vigour
Describe the characteristics flavour and structural characteristics of Verdejo.
Why is it able to be grown successfully in Rueda?
Flavour Pear, peach, herbal, bitter
Structure Med-med(+) acid, med alcohol
Drought tolerant
Which grapes are planted in Rueda?
Verdejo + S.B which are single-varietal or blended
small amount of red and rose → Tempranillo (but demand met by nearby regions)
How are vines trained and trellised in Rueda?
New vineyards are VSP
→ esp. important as desirable to harvest at night
→ machine
old bush vines (incl. pre-p) → around 10% of vines
Describe wine production in Rueda for inexpensive, mid-priced and premium wines.
Inexpensive
- vast majority
- SST
- cultured yeast
- bottled immediately for sale
Mid-priced
- lees ageing, stirring for few months - 1 year
Premium oak ferment/matured
Malo avoided in all styles → acidity
Describe the area covered by Castilla y León VT, its climate, vineyard area and wines produced.
- Large area in N part of Meseta
- Continental climate with mod from altitude
- Modest vineyard area
- Wines produced using wine range of grapes that lie outside DO rules
- most inexp-mid-priced
- some prem
