20.2 - Castilla y León

Question 1

Briefly describe the situation and climate of Castilla y León.

Answer 1

The northern end of Meseta

Mainly continental

Mountains to north and south

Some maritime influence in west

Question 2

Describe the situation, climate, topography rainfall and soils of Bierzo DO.

Answer 2

Situation north-west corner of the meseta with mountains on three sides, open to the west

Climate similar to continental Galicia with still more continentality –> VV

Topography plain in middle and lower slopes of lesser wines; slopes 500-850m for best

Soils plain and lower slopes –> silt/loam; upper slopes –> shallow, slate

Question 3

Why is Mencia suited to being grown in Bierzo?

Describe the styles of wine produced with the grapes.

Answer 3

Mencia is early-mid-ripening –> diurnal range and some cooling influence from maritime prevents loss of acidity and elevated sugar levels

Plains/lower slopes high acid, med(-) body, carbonic/semi-carbonic maceration, good/mid-priced

Middle/upper slopes ripe red cherry, plum, floral, herbal with med-med(+) body and tannin, more alcohol; oak matured; VG-outstanding/mid-priced-premium

Question 4

Name two significant Bierzo producers.

Answer 4

Descendientes de J. Palacios, Raul Perez

Question 5

How much does Bierzo DO produce each vintage? To what extent does this vary?

How large is the area under vine? How does this compare to Rioja?

Answer 5

Average over past 10 vintages - 96,000hL (about 3.2% of Rioja)

Highly variable due to weather conditions

3000ha vs. 64,000ha

Question 6

Describe the structure of production in Bierzo DO. To what extent are vineyards classified by quality?

Answer 6

3000ha divided by 2000 growers

50% of growers work with co-ops

Small but growing number of wineries - 75

CR established new classifications based on villages and vineyards + yield restrictions similar to Priorat DOQ.

Question 7

Describe the situation, climate, topography, rainfall and soils of Toro DO.

Answer 7

Situation west of CyL along the River Duero

Climate Continental with large diurnals due to…

Topography 620-750m

Rainfall low

Soils sandy –> phylloxera

Question 8

What are the main viticultural hazards in Toro DO?

Answer 8

1. Spring frost - continentality
2. Drought - low rainfall, irrigation not allowed from June onwards

Question 9

How is the risk of drought managed in Toro DO? (2)

Answer 9

Low density - as little as 2,700 VPH

Irrigation - prior to June to ensure success flowering and fruit set

Question 10

Name two notable features of the vines in Toro DO?

Answer 10

1. Ungrafted - sandy soils –> no phylloxera
2. Old vines - 20% more than 50 years old
3. Bush vines - vast majority

Question 11

What is the main grape variety in Toro DO?

Answer 11

Tinta de Toro - a mutation of Tempranillo better suited to warm conditions

Thicker skin –> deeper colour and more tannin

Reds min 75% Tinta de Toro

Question 12

What styles of wine are produced in Toro?

Connect the climate to the reds produced.

Answer 12

Reds - min 75% Tinta de Toro (rest is Garncha) –> deep colour, high alcohol, full-body, high/ripe tannins, ripe flavours balanced by med(+) or high acidity thanks to diurnals

Rose - from TdT or Garncha

White - from Malvasia or Verdejo

Question 13

Why are cooler sites popular in Toro?

Answer 13

Sites at high altitude or facing north popular as DO limits ABV to 15% for reds and moderating factors needed to slow ripening

Question 14

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.

Answer 14

Carbonic maceration reduced tannin extraction and enhance fruit

Oak ageing to soften the tannin and introduce oak flavours esp. via new oak and American oak

Numathia

Question 15

Outline trends in the number of wineries and production volume.

Account for these trends.

Answer 15

8 –> 50 wineries in 25 years

Popularity and higher land prices in Ribera del Duero

Question 16

Briefly outline the history of wine production in Ribera del Duero.

Answer 16

Vega Sicilia founded in late c19th

Very few wineries - ~9 when DO formed in 1982

Pesquera wone int’l acclaim in 80s –> encouraged growers to make their own wine rather than sell to co-ops

280 wineries today

Question 17

Why are some producers worried about Ribera del Duero’s rapid expansion?

Answer 17

Rapid expansion of the vineyard area may mean a reduction in quality and dilution of the DO’s soft brand.

Question 18

Describe the situation, climate, topography, rainfall, and viticultural hazards of Ribera del Duero.

Answer 18

Situation upper valley of Deuro river, east of Toro and Rueda

Climate similar to T and R with more continentality

Topography high altitude vineyards 750-1000m

Rainfall low 400-600mm

Hazards Frost in spring and autumn (implications?), drought during ripening

Question 19

How can growers tackle Ribera del Duero’s principle viticultural hazards?

Answer 19

Frost heats, spraying vines with water, helicopters; growing across a diversity of sites

Drought irrigation is allowed before ripening to protect flowering and fruit set; low density planting

Question 20

Which part of Ribera del Duero is usually cooler? Why?

Answer 20

Eastern side due to higher elevation

N.B. region has a range of aspects and elevation

Question 21

Which grape varieties are grown in Ribera del Duero?

What styles of wine do they produce?

Answer 21

Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) - which may be blended with Garnacha and int’l varieties (but often single varietal) –> ripe, oak heavy, full-bodied, high alcohol

Small amounts of Cabernet, Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha

Albillo Mayor - recently authorised to be used in white wine production

Question 22

How are vines typically trained/trellised in Ribera del Duero?

How old are many vineyards?

What size are most vineyards?

Answer 22

1/2 are bush vines, newer vineyards are trellised

1/4 >50yrs old

The majority of plots are <1ha (very small)

Question 23

Outline trends in winemaking in Ribera del Duero

Answer 23

Highly extracted / oaky style is king with up 100% new French or American oak

N.B. Crianza is most popular ageing category

Trend towards less extraction, shorter post-ferment maceration and less new oak (quality producers)

Question 24

How much does Ribera del Duero produce? (Cf Rioja).

How much is exported?

Answer 24

Around 650,000 hL (Rioja = 3,000,000 hL)

Around 20%

Question 25

What style of wine is Rueda known for? How has this changed?

Answer 25

Past 50 years oxidative, fortified wine

Today fresh, fruity white wines after initial investment by Marques de Riscal winery

Question 26

Describe the situation, climate, soil, rainfall, and topography of Rueda.

Answer 26

Situation between Toro and Ribera del Duero

Climate similar to above

Rainfall low

Topography 700-800m

Soil topsoil of stones and sand then sandy clay and limestone bedrock –> free-draining and low in nutrients –> vigour

Question 27

Describe the characteristics flavour and structural characteristics of Verdejo.

Why is it able to be grown successfully in Rueda?

Answer 27

Flavour Pear, peach, herbal, bitter

Structure Med-med(+) acid, med alcohol

Drought tolerant

Question 28

Which grapes are planted in Rueda?

Answer 28

Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc which are single-varietal or blended

A small amount of red and rose made from Tempranillo (but demand met by nearby regions)

Question 29

How are vines trained and trellised in Rueda?

Answer 29

New vineyards are VSP’d - esp. important as desirable to harvest at night –> machine

Some very old bush vines (incl. pre-phylloxera) - around 10% of vineyard area

Question 30

Describe wine production in Rueda for inexpensive, mid-priced and premium wines.

Answer 30

Inexpensive vast majority, SST and cultured yeast, bottled immediately for sale

Mid-priced lees ageing, stirring for few months - 1 year

Premium oak fermented/matured

Malo avoided in all styles –> acidity

Question 31

Describe and explain trends in production and sales in the past 20 years in Rueda.

Answer 31

Production up 4x

Sales by value up 7x

Due to the popularity of fruity, crisp styles at low price

Mainly via domestic market growth with help from exports

Sales volume around 600,000 hL (1/5 Rioja)

Question 32

Where has investment in Rueda come from?

Answer 32

Wineries in Rioja and Ribera del Duero –> adding white wine to their portfolio.

Winemaking companies outside Rueda account for 40% of production

Question 33

Describe the area covered by Castilla y León VT, its climate, vineyard area and wines produced.

Answer 33

Large area in the northern part of Meseta

Continental climate with moderation from altitude

Modest vineyard area (9000ha vs 63,000ha for DOs in the region)

Wines produced using wine range of grapes that lie outside DO rules, most inexpensive-mid-priced, some premium