20.7 Spain - Valencia and Murcia

Question 1

What is the general climate of Valencia DO?

Answer 1

Mediterranean with low rainfall and cooling influences either from altitude (continental) or coastal proximity

Question 2

What are the four key sub-zones of Valencia DO?

Answer 2

1) Alto Turia
2) Valentino
3) Clariano
4) Moscatel

Question 3

Describe the location of Alto Turia

Answer 3

700-1,000, foothills of the Sistema Iberico mountain

Question 4

What are the two predominant white varieties of Alto Turia?

Answer 4

Moscatel de Alejandria
Merseguera

Question 5

Name a Vinos de Pagos in Valencia DO and its estate (pago)

Answer 5

El Terrerazo
Bodega Mustiguillo

Question 6

At what altitude are the vineyards of Valentino planted?

Answer 6

200-650m

Question 7

What are the main wines of the Moscatel sub-zone?

Answer 7

Moscatel de Valencia (sweet)
Vino de licor

Question 8

What is vino de licor?

Answer 8

Unfermented grape must fortified with grape spirit

Question 9

By whom and for what purpose are the majority of Valencia DO’s wines mape?

Answer 9

By co-ops for immediate consumption

Question 10

What are the three main DOs of Valencia in terms of size?

Answer 10

1) Utiel-Requena DO 33,000 ha
2) Valencia DO 13,000 ha
3) Alicante DO 9,000 ha

Question 11

What are the two main DOs of Murcia?

Answer 11

1) Jumilla DO
2) Yecla DO

Question 12

What is the climate of Utiel-Requena DO and why?

Answer 12

Continental due to its inland location and average altitude of 750m

Question 13

What is the main variety planted in Utiel-Requena DO?

Answer 13

Bobal

Question 14

What are three positive characteristics of Bobal that make it suitable in Utiel-Requena?

Answer 14

1) Mid- to late-ripening
2) Drought tolerant
3) Able to retain acidity in hot climates

Question 15

What is a negative characteristic of Bobal?

Answer 15

Uneven ripening resulting in unripe tannins

Question 16

Where is most Utiel-Requena DO sold?

Answer 16

Exported

Question 17

What might an inexpensive Bobal be like?

Answer 17

Light-bodied, medium tannins often made with semi-carbonic

Question 18

What might a premium Bobal be like?

Answer 18

Concentrated with medium (+) tannins, medium (+) to full body, high acid and flavours of blackberry, black cherry and chocolate.

Question 19

Wines from which neighbouring DOs may be labelled Alicante DO?

Answer 19

Jumilla and Yecla

Question 20

What is the climate of Alicante DO?

Answer 20

Mediterranean with hot summers, cold winters and dry year-round

Question 21

Describe Alicante DO’s main area of production, Vinalopo

Answer 21

To the west of the DO (and the city of Alicante) to vineyards around 500m near the Sierra de Salinas

Question 22

What grape variety is most common in the Vinalopo sub-zone?

Answer 22

Monastrell

Question 23

What grape variety is most common in the Marina Alta sub-zone?

Answer 23

Moscatel de Alejandria (sweet and dry)

Question 24

Where is the Marina Alta sub-zone?

Answer 24

In the north east of the region on the coast

Question 25

Red wines labelled Alicante DO must contain what per cent of what variety?

Answer 25

80% Monastrell

Question 26

What is the general style of Alicante DO red wines? (5)

Answer 26

Full-bodied
High alcohol
High tannins
Ripe black fruit
Matured often in American oak

Question 27

Besides Monastrell, what three black grape varieties are found in Alicante DO

Answer 27

Alicante Bouschet, Garnacha, Bobal

Question 28

What is Fondillon?

Answer 28

A historic med-sweet red wine style produced in Alicante DO from late harvest Monastrell either vintage or solera

Question 29

What are the three requirements of Fondillon?

Answer 29

1) Maximum 40 g/L residual sugar
2) 16% alcohol minimum without fortification
3) Minimum 10 years in large oak

Question 30

What is the climate of Jumilla DO?

Answer 30

Continental with low rainfall

Question 31

At what altitude are Jumilla DO’s vines planted?

Answer 31

400-800m

Question 32

Despite Jumilla & Yecla’s low annual rainfall, irrigation is uncommon. Why?

Answer 32

The layer of limestone beneath sandy soils aids retention of ground water

Question 33

What is the main variety of Jumilla DO & Yecla DO?

Answer 33

Monastrell

Question 34

Describe the history of Jumilla DO (4)

Answer 34

1) Historically a producer of bulk wine
2) Devastated by phylloxera in 1989
3) Replanted with higher-quality rootstocks and clones
4) Revised vineyard management and winemaking (earlier harvesting, cooler fermentation)

Question 35

Name a high quality produce of Jumilla DO

Answer 35

Casa Castillo

Question 36

Besides Monastrell what are three Spanish and three Bordeaux varieties also found in Jumilla?

Answer 36

1) Garnacha
2) Tempranillo
3) Alicante Bouschet

1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Merlot
3) Petit Verdot

Question 37

How are most Jumilla DO & Yecla DO wines sold?

Answer 37

Export

Question 38

Between which two DOs is Yecla DO situated?

Answer 38

Alicante to the east
Jumilla to the west

Question 39

What is Yecla DO’s climate?

Answer 39

Continental with more Mediterranean influence than Jumilla and low (300m) rainfall

Question 40

At what altitudes are Yecla DO’s vines planted?

Answer 40

500-900m

Question 41

Which business type is prevalent in Jumilla and Yecla?

Answer 41

Co-ops